Droid Life

HTC Vigor to be Renamed "Thunderbolt 2"? Samsung Prime Replaces DROID Charge?

Kellen — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:44:37 +0000

OK before we start, we should make sure that everyone knows that we know that there are spelling errors like a mutha up in this leak. It could be legit, but truthfully, we have no idea. According to the source - who happens to be a Best Buy employee - this document was handed out by Verizon reps (we're thinking regional) and describes the expected lineup for them in the near future. It includes a whole bunch of devices that have long been rumored, so there are a couple of things we should think about with this: could be someone compiling all of the stuff we have been talking about for the last month and splashing it down on paper or it could be legit and the guy just can't type. So with that said, let's talk about what we are seeing. While the Stratosphere is up there as replacing the Fascinate, we are more interested in comparisons two and five lines below that. Thunderbolt 2? The Thunderbolt 2 is as many of you know, the HTC Vigor (first pictures). In a leaked roadmap back at the beginning of August, we saw then that this device would be replacing the original Thunderbolt - a device that has really only been out for 7 months. Is Verizon planning to rebrand it as the Tbolt 2 though? Interesting idea. The original Thunderbolt went by the model number ADR6400 and the Vigor is already listed as ADR6425, so it would make sense to re-use the name similarly to what was done with the Incredible and its follow-up. What about the "Sam Prime"? That would be the Nexus Prime or DROID Prime or whatever the hell you want to call it that is expected to be one of the first Ice Cream Sandwich devices on the planet. According to this document, it will replace the DROID Charge which to be honest, makes a lot of sense. The Charge went by model number SCH-i510 and the Prime has already been outed as SCH-i515. The Charge is also in a similar predicament as the Thunderbolt in that its specs are from 1992 (yeah, exaggeration) and is in dire need of being upgraded. No details on a release, but so far we have an October 6 date for the Vigor and a potential November time frame for the Prime. Seriously, September can't possibly go any faster. Via: Phandroid

In Other Android News: No Exynos for T-Mobile Galaxy S2, HTC Ponders Own Mobile OS, Acer Tab to AT&T

Kellen — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:34:46 +0000

In case you hadn't heard or realized yet, we wanted to point out that our brother site Android Life is back up and running with a full team of writers. Things have been rolling along over there for 2-3 weeks now to help continue to feed this Android addiction that so many of us have. If you are not familiar with that site, just think of it as a blog that covers all phones/tablets that are headed to carriers other than Verizon. If you were contemplating a switch from Big Red to say, T-Mobile or Sprint, then AL would be a good place to look to see what kinds of devices they may have on the horizon. With that said, we welcome you back to our daily feature that has one goal, to keep you up to date on all things Android.

For whatever reason, the T-Mobile Galaxy S II will not come with a 1.2GHz Exynos processor.
HTC is thinking about making their own mobile OS, however, they are not going to do it on a whim.
The Acer Iconia Tab A501 and its 10.1" self are headed to AT&T with HSPA+ radios.
Early CM7 builds for the Sensation and EVO3D are now available.
Motorola announced the ELECTRIFY on U.S. Cellular - it's just the Photon 4G.
Samsung released a new U.S. Galaxy S II commercial that will make Verizon customers really mad:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bu0IPC2F2g[/youtube]

To stay current on the rest of each day's other Android news, be sure to add Android Life to your feed.

Developer Begins Porting Atrix 4G ROMs to the DROIDX2

Kellen — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:55:24 +0000

Back in July, the DROIDX2 received 2nd-init support - like original DX users had been enjoying - bringing with it the ability to flash custom ROMs. The only problem has been that there aren't a ton of developers working on it, so ROMs have been scarce for the most part. Thankfully, one dev in particular (navenedrob) has decided to start pulling from the massive list of Atrix ROMs and port them over to the DX2. With both devices running pretty similar specs and chipsets, it shouldn't be long now before you all have more than a couple of choices. First up is a stock Android 2.3.4 ROM to get you feeling unBlurred again. To keep up with the latest ports, follow this XDA thread. Cheers MistaWolfe!

Android Fragmentation is Much More Than Just Numbers, It's About Skins Too [Opinion]

Ron — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:20:34 +0000

Most of the time that fragmentation is discussed it is in direct reference to different versions of Android running on different handsets. The cause of this fragmentation is usually identified as the sundry skins that manufacturers develop in order to differentiate their devices from others and create brand awareness and loyalty. Though critics and users have often called for stock Android to be at least an option on Android handsets (if not the standard), manufacturers like Motorola, HTC, and Samsung have continued to create more and more invasive and intricate skins on the devices they offer to consumers. Though a lack of updates is certainly reason enough for users to be upset, a more important issue may be the very different experiences that are presented to consumers because of these skins. If the average consumer were to pick up the HTC Sensation and then pick up the DROID Bionic, they might be inclined to believe that the phones run totally different operating systems. And in a sense (no pun intended), they do. A phone made by HTC and running Sense offers a completely different experience than a Motorola phone running Blur (or “Android with Motorola Enhancements” as Motorola inclined to call it these days) or a Samsung phone running TouchWiz. These manufacturer skins have altered Android so much that something as simple as unlocking your screen is a fundamentally different experience on different Android phones. On a stock device like the Nexus S I simply slide the lock tab to unlock the screen, but on a TouchWiz device I push the lock screen away or complete a puzzle, on a Sense device I slide down the lock bar or slide the lock ring upward, and on a Motorola device I slide the lock tab which also varies in location from device to device. In other words, the first screen that a consumer sees in a store when looking at an Android phone can be completely different from the Android phone next to it. The Droid X2 is only a few months old, and yet the Droid 3 has a completely different lock screen. On first glance a consumer might be convinced that the Droid X2 and Droid 3 are made by different companies because of how different the lock screens are. On a device with TouchWiz 4.0 there are additional sliders for missed calls or new test messages, yet these features are completely absent from any other Android lock screen. It gets even worse on an HTC device. The image above shows all of the possible lock screens you can select on the HTC Sensation. I like being able to customize my device, but there comes a point where these skins aren’t just differentiators. They are creating a completely different experience, and by proxy a completely different OS. Sure, I can play Dragon, Fly on my Droid 2 or on my Droid Incredible and get the same experience, but when I hit the home button I’m greeted with a very different home screen on each device. On my Droid 2 I have a row of 4 buttons, three of which are customizable, whereas on my Incredible I have three buttons on the bottom, none of which are customizable. The polish of HTC’s widgets is incomparable with the widgets offered by Motorola or Samsung (or Google for that matter). In a community like Droid Life, skins can be somewhat irrelevant because many users hack their phones and use custom ROMs or use a home replacement app like ADW or Launcher Pro to hide the manufacturer’s home screens, but to the average consumer the notion that the HTC Sensation and the Samsung Galaxy SII both run Android is asinine – they do not present the same interface in the least. When someone buys a phone like the Sensation they get Android, but they get the Sense interface too. I’d wager to say that a lot of consumers buy a Sense device because it looks pretty and polished and pass over a phone like the Photon because it doesn’t have a giant, magnificent weather widget for a lock screen. The community has called out manufacturers for putting skins on their devices that delay updates – the question is, does the problem run deeper than updates? Is there a difference between someone who loves Android on the Samsung Galaxy SII and someone who loves Android on the HTC Evo 3D? Would Android be a better platform if Google stopped allowing customizations like Microsoft has with Windows Phone 7? Does Sense or MotoBlur or TouchWiz make an Android handset better or worse? Should Google stop offering Google services to devices that offer such a vastly different experience? There are no definite answers, but I think the questions are important ones for the community to ponder. My first smartphone was the HTC Touch Pro2. It ran Windows Mobile 6.1 (though it was eventually updated to WinMo 6.5). Anyone who ran WinMo 6.5 knows that HTC TouchFlo 3D (the precursor to Sense) was near essential to make Windows Mobile useful, though my TP2 did suffer from slowness because of the skin. When Android first came out it needed a lot of polish. How many of us would be comfortable going back to the Éclair interface? My Droid Eris originally ran Android 1.6 – there is no way I would have found Donut’s interface likeable compared to what iOS was offering at the same. In the Donut and Éclair eras, skins like Sense made sense (pun intended). It made sense to make Android look prettier and in many ways easier to use, but can anyone honestly say that Gingerbread is that confusing to use? It’s not my favorite UI, but it is leaps and bounds away from the drudgery that was Android 1.6. As Google continues to improve the polish of Android I don’t think skins will be necessary anymore. In fact, I think Android skins like Sense, though gorgeous, will be detrimental to Android in the long run. The only commitment that Google has gotten out of manufacturers has been to support devices with updates for up to 18 months, but often those updates are impossible to accomplish because of the skins. When my Droid Eris was updated from Android 1.6 to Android 2.1 I loved the new Sense features, but my phone was doggedly slow (often the phone would ring several times before the screen would respond to my finger’s demand to answer the call). I think Android will be better off if Google begins pushing for a consistent UI across devices. Manufacturers can differentiate through form factors, not skins, that way updates come faster and having an Android phone doesn’t mean dozens of drastically different experiences for consumers. If the message from consumers to Google and manufacturers has been a demand for updates, then the message to Google from manufacturers has been that the only way they believe they can compete is if they skin Android to the point that their experience is vastly different (and in their eyes, superior) to another manufacturer’s skin. This doesn’t lead to the united front against iOS and Windows Phone 7 that Google wants and Android fans envision – it leads a confused consumer base a system fragmented by both updates and experience. What do you think? Are skins good or bad for Android? Should Google exert more control over user experience? Does a phone’s skin impact your decision to buy it or not? Sound off in the comments to let us know where you stand on Android skin fragmentation.

Orb Live Brings Hulu Support and New UI to Android in Latest Release

Kellen — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:33:33 +0000

Orb Live introduced the latest version of their app this morning which just so happens to include Hulu support. And no, we aren't talking Hulu+ paid support, we are talking the free streaming you get when you jump on their site via computer. To be clear though, the app isn't necessarily pulling straight from Hulu to your phone, but is instead pulling a feed from your computer and then making it playable on your phone. Did that make sense? So in order to get Hulu up and streaming on your phone, you will need to buy this new Orb Live app for $9.99, install some software on your PC or Mac, and then have at it. You can also pull any other media content that's on your home computer (music, photos, videos, Pandora, etc.) - just make sure it has an internet connection at all times. Market Link ($9.99) To download the PC or Mac software, click here.

Gamestop Introducing Branded Android Tablet Next Year?

Eric — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:11:35 +0000

Color me surprised, because the largest retailer of video games in the nation is involved with talks that they will be launching their own brand of Android tablet sometime during the next year. Gamestop president Tony Bartel explained today that they are currently testing the sale and distribution of a currently unspecified Android tablet that will come paired with a controller peripheral of some sort.

The goal of the device is apparently to stream full retail releases while still supporting mobile apps and other things. Bartel even said that there would be titles made specifically for the tablet.

All of this is very very interesting, but not far off after seeing that Kal-El processors are going to be here very soon. The problem is, who wants to carry around a tablet AND a controller to play Modern Warfare 3? It seems unwieldy to try and play a large game like that on a small screen. I can't even read a book at the right angle on a tablet, how am I gonna pwn some n00bz? What do you guys think of this announcement?

Via: Joystiq

Download: Working FM Radio App for DROID Bionic

Kellen — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:00:15 +0000

We aren't sure why Motorola continues to leave out the FM Radio app from their devices, but don't worry as the version that worked on the DROID3 and almost any other Moto phone, certainly works on the DROID Bionic as well. You will need head phones in order to use the app - install as you would any other non-market .apk file. Download: MotoFMRadio.apk Via: XDA Cheers to everyone who sent this!

NVIDIA Roadmap Leaks: Kal-El+ and Separate Processor Divisions Coming in 2012

Kellen — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:55:48 +0000

A roadmap of NVIDIA's current mobile processor plans for now through 2013 may have leaked online over the weekend, potentially giving us a look at an already-updated Kal-El (quad-core) chip and their goal of dividing the company into to separate businesses. We had heard last week from CEO Jen-Hsun Huang that Kal-El processors had been delayed slightly, but would be available in tablets some time this year. What we had not heard, was that there may be a Kal-El+ processor that will replace it just a few months after those initial device releases. No details on what the + means in this new quad-core chip were made available in this leak. The other interesting bit of info we get from this roadmap is the mid-2012 splitting of their mobile processor unit. There had been talk of NVIDIA entering the non-superphone market to help grow this business and I would say this certainly confirms that. Project "Wayne" appears to be the superphone and tablet division, while "Grey" could be their "mass consumption" line of processors. So not only will we see NVIDIA producing a line of game-changing processors that match up with best of them, but we will also see a set of standard processors make their way into the average super phone. And yes, Windows Phone is listed on there. Would make sense for NVIDIA to jump into bed with additional operating systems. Via: Heisse, Android and Me

Seven+ Releases Notification Bar Changer, No Root Required

Kellen — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:54:16 +0000

The Seven+ crew that has worked countless hours to try and port some of the minimalistic Windows Phone 7 apps over to Android. We have seen the calculator along with a UI changer in the past, but today's release might be the most influential yet. StatusBar+ allows you to change the style and color of your device's notification bar without having root access, something that to our knowledge, has never been done before. You can set it to start on boot up and even change the colors of notifications and the background. *Note - on my Galaxy SII and Bionic, I was able to set the StatusBar+ as my notification bar, but only the clock will show. I've reached out to the dev to see why notifications and signal icons will not show on these two devices, but I suggest you check out the free version to see if it will work correctly on yours before buying. *Note 2 - and I'm an idiot. Just tap on the notification bar and will display all of your icons. Fantastic app. *Note 3 - the signal strength appears to be broken. There is no way I have full 4G coverage here. A bug that will likely be worked out. Oh, and they have opened sourced the project, so I'm sure we will have some snazzy alternatives with similar functionality in the near future. Market Links: Free | Paid More info can be found at this blog post. Via: UltraLinx

Bionic Blast: WiFi Tether Hack, Signal Issues, Cheap Batteries, and Bootloader Bounty

Kellen — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:17:14 +0000

Rather than post these up individually (and stir up the trolls), we thought it was best to just hammer out one big post with all of the DROID Bionic news tips that hit our inbox over the weekend. Some good stuff going on, including a WiFi Tether hack and a bounty that has been put out for anyone that can unlock the device's bootloader. We are also wondering if anyone has been struggling with signal and battery issues as much as Tim and I have? WiFi Tether Hack Verizon and Motorola clearly put in some work to block unauthorized tethering on the Bionic, but that hasn't stopped our dev community from making progress. While the phone can be easily rooted, many of you found out that your favorite tethering app was not able to work properly. Well, until now that is. Folks over at XDA figured out a way to edit the settings.db file from inside the device to bypass whatever Moto attempted to block with:

I found way to enable Hotspot without Verizon Provisioning. I used SQLLite Editor to modify settings.db for "Settings Storage" application ( com.motorola.android.providers.settings ). Set entitlement_check to 0 and reboot the phone.

More info at this XDA thread. Bounty for Unlocked Bootloader As is customary these days for locked devices just after release, a bounty has been placed on the Bionic's bootloader. The total purse is up to $370 as of right now, but will surely grow once we get enough people talking about it. All you have to do is figure out a way to unlock it, prove that you unlocked it, get another forum member to successfully unlock using your method, and the money is yours. More info at this XDA thread. Cheap Extended Batteries We wrote this tip up yesterday, but wanted to point out that it appears to still be available. If you own a Bionic and are feeling the 4G LTE battery wrath, then you may want to grab the extended battery from Verizon as soon as possible. They will show up on VZW's accessory page as $49.99, but once you add it to your cart, will see that you can checkout with one for just $24.99. Signal Issues and Battery Life Update: After reading the comments, it's pretty clear that I may be in the minority here. Most of you are having above average battery life and no signal issues. Maybe it's time to get a new unit and restart all this testing. This is more of a subject that I am curious about after having a weekend from hell with my Bionic than anything. Either I have the ultimate dud device that can't hold a signal for more than 10 minutes at a time or this device is struggling worse than the Thunderbolt ever thought of. So what I'm wondering, is if anyone else is having signal issues with their Bionic? I'm in a 4G LTE area, but can essentially watch the device drop and lose connection for good, every couple of minutes unless I toggle Airplane or another network setting to get it to pop back on. I had heard that there are 4G to 3G hand-off issues and am wondering if that is what I am experiencing. On a related note, my battery life issues could have to do with the signal issues that did not improve over the weekend. Hearing reports of anywhere from 8-12 hours of life from some of you which is solid - I'm just having no such luck. Anyone else having battery issues? Cheers Lawrence and Jarrod!

Next Version of Android Could Be "Jelly Bean," May or May Not Steal "Game Changing" Stuff From Ice Cream Sandwich

Kellen — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:55:55 +0000

How does the name "Jelly Bean" sound as the next version of Android? According to a report from the This is my next crew, that's the direction the Android team is leaning as of right now. Their original source told them that the name had been decided on, but have received additional word suggesting that it is only one of the options in the running. There original report also mentioned something that almost made Ice Cream Sandwich seem as if it would not include all of the "game changing" goodies that we were all hoping for and that those were pushed back to Jelly Bean. Thankfully now, this second source has come forward to make it clear that there are still major functional, architectural and design changes in ICS, so by no means will it be underwhelming. No other details were provided, but we may be one step closer to a name for it. And maybe Google checked out our poll of which name our readers liked best? Jelly Bean was the clear winner. *Note - We had actually heard from a source that the name would be "Jawbreaker". Via: This is my next Cheers Josh for the image!

DROID Bionic Extended Battery is 50% Through Verizon, Maybe This Weekend Only

Kellen — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:31:32 +0000

Bought a new DROID Bionic over the last few days and need more juice to get you through the day? Might want to head over to Verizon's online shop today, as they appear to be slashing the price of extended batteries in half this weekend (possibly til 9/30 though). When you view the battery page, it will show as $49.99, but once you add it to your cart, you will see that you can purchase it for $24.99 as I have showed in the picture above. Steal. Buy. Cheers @0mie and jarrod!

This Week In The Life Of DROID: 9/9/2011

Tim — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:11:57 +0000

We have been awaiting the release of the DROID Bionic for quite some time. We have it now and soon we will deliver our full length review, which is sure to be most epic. We know some don't care for all the hypebeastin', but hey, don't you worry. We have the HTC Vigor, and the Nexus Prime supposedly just around the corner.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and prepare yourselves for next weeks full Bionic review, plus plenty more Vigor and Prime hypebeastin'!

DROID3 Update is Ready: Includes Google Talk with Video and a Massive List of Bug Fixes

Kellen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:15:47 +0000

(Click image for full version)

Earlier in the week we learned about a soak test that was being performed on the DROID3 which is almost always a clear sign that an update is just weeks away. Today, we are seeing the changelog for that update on Verizon's servers - another good indication that the update should be here in no time. Normally when these things go up, we see the soak test begin within a day followed by the mass rollout within a week; assuming all goes well that is. So what can we expect? Google Talk with Video is the star of the show. Other than that, we get 30 or so bug fixes that will help to make the device and its newish Blur that much more stable. I found it odd though that they fixed bugs in some of the bloatware. Because the only fix that can truly be done to bloatware is by giving users the ability to uninstall it. Just sayin'. Soak testers, be sure to let us know when this starts going down! The new build is 5.6.890. The update is 57.6MB in size. More info.

Netflix on Android Receives Update, Support for All 2.2 and 2.3 Devices Included

Kellen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:32:53 +0000

Everyone join in on the fun that is Netflix! Thanks to an update that just went live in the market, Android 2.2+ users can load up Netflix and start crushing episodes of Grey's Ana....errr Sons of Anarchy! In all seriousness though, this is pretty cool news. *Note - this does not include Honeycomb. Market Link

DROID Bionic Root/Unroot Tool Also Available Now

Kellen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:42:23 +0000

Yesterday we wrote up instructions for you on how to root the DROID Bionic, but are back again today with unroot instructions thanks to the crazy dev community that is surrounding these new Motorola phones. Unrooting looks to be as simple as rooting and actually uses the same exact tool. Well, this is an updated version from yesterday that you will need to download, but it's essentially just a simple click. Download: PetesMotorolaRootTools.zip

*Pete's root tools will also root your Bionic as well. This is a dual-tool.

Instructions:

1. Download and unzip PetesMotorolaRootTools.zip onto your Windows PC. 2. Make sure the Motorola drivers are still installed. 3. Make sure USB Debugging is still selected. 4. Connect your Bionic to your computer. 5. Run the Pete's Motorola Root Tools.exe. 6. Select UnRoot My Phone at the bottom. 7. Your phone will reboot 3-4 times as the program goes through all 4 steps in the process.

Via: RootzWiki Cheers again to @djrbliss for the exploit and to psouza4 and Framework43 for putting this together!

Friday Poll: Preferred smartphone lock switch location?

Kellen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:02:04 +0000

In the mini-review of the DROID Bionic that I wrote up this morning, a fun conversation was started over one of the subjects that was briefly touched on. I brought up the fact that the top left lock switch drives me nuts, but quickly found out that many of you actually prefer it. Some of us are one-handed thumb smartphone users, while others may hold their device in another hand while using a finger from their other as a pointer. So for right-handed users that actually end up holding their device more in their left, may tend to like left-sided lock switches. Me on the other hand, holds all phones in my right hand and prefer right or on-the-side lock switches (thanks Samsung!). So today's poll is really more silly than anything, but wanted to know which side do you prefer a lock switch to be on. Left top, right top, or on the side? [poll id="101"]

Now this is what we call promotion. [Photo]

Kellen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:06:17 +0000

Massive marketing budget. Cheers Michael_NM!

Droid 3 Unbrick SBF Released to Ease Your Hacking Fears

Eric — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:43:41 +0000

I can speak from personal experience that up until now, experimenting with the D3 was always playing with fire because there was no safety net to fall back on incase something went horribly, horribly wrong. Now, thanks to some great guys over at XDA there has been a flashable file released that has been proven to un-brick previously lost D3's. Oh happy day.

The file can be found here. For instructions on how to flash via RSDLite, head on over to the thread over at XDA.

Via: XDA

Cheers Pharaoh!

Boot Manager Allows 'Flashaholics' To Run Up To 5 ROMs At Once

Tim — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:30:45 +0000

Back when the 'OG' DROID was the hugely developer supported device that it was, users were flashing multiple ROMs a day just to find which they liked best. Now that the developer community has become more diverse with so many new devices, times are different. Many devices still have outstanding developer support and boast many different ROMs users can flash. The hardest part for some, is switching back and forth between them all. Boot Manager allows users to have up to five ROMs installed on your device at the same time, and with a single reboot, jump to the next ROM. Why wasn't this around when we all couldn't decide between CyanogenMod, Bugless Beast, or Simply Stunning. Now you are going to ask yourself, "Oh my God, I need this, and is my device supported?" Not to worry. Here is the full supported device list.

Motorola Droid 1 HTC Incredible 1 HTC Thunderbolt HTC Desire Z HTC G2(aka Vision) HTC EVO 4G HTC Inspire4g HTC Desire HTC Desire HD HTC MyTouch 4G HTC Nexus One Htc Evo 3D Htc Sensation Htc Incredible 2 Htc Incredible S Htc Desire S

The process won't take you less than a minute to complete, but if you have the urge to have some fun with your device, the developer has made a great instruction manual for all users. You can read that here. Market Link ($2.99) Flashing a new ROM and giving them a test run is such a great feeling. Just knowing we can change up our phones however we want is huge advantage rooted users can have. But as always, be safe, and make sure to read all the directions. Anyone in the need for having multiple ROMs running on their phone? Good luck!

Mysterious HTC Device With LTE Lands at the FCC, It's Definitely the Vigor

Kellen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:58:19 +0000

The HTC Vigor may have well just landed itself at the FCC this morning. Thanks to a report of an HTC device with CDMA and LTE radios that received a bunch of test results, we can't imagine it would be anything but. Oh, and the model number matches the one we saw when it received WiFi certification. So with this next-gen HTC device receiving all sorts of certifications as well as a filing at the FCC, I'd say we are getting close. Need a reminder on specs? We have been told that it will have a 4.3" HD screen, 1.5GHz dual-core processors, dual-cameras, no kickstand, 4G LTE support, Android 2.3.4, Sense 3.5 and Beats by Dre audio enhancements (which could just mean a pair of headphones). Not official by any means, but definitely match up to other rumored HTC devices that are on the way. The current rumored release date is October 6.

Via: FCC, Phandroid Cheers Justin!

Two Days with the Bionic: Some First Impressions, Bugs, and Other Thoughts

Kellen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 09:11:21 +0000

As you all know, we try to give new phones a thorough run-through of at least a full week before posting up a review on it. We definitely do not do the 1-day press review as that seems completely unfair to both readers and to the device itself. With that said, we know that the DROID Bionic is a hot topic right now and also that many of you are waiting to hear our thoughts on it before jumping in and buying one. Since our full review is still some time away and many of you are contemplating whether or not you should pick one up this weekend, we thought we would toss out a few quick thoughts, bugs and other stuff that we have experienced with the phone.

Let's start with the good stuff.

4G LTE: As someone that moved onto a Galaxy SII and fell in love, there was a part of me that was constantly missing 4G LTE. AT&T's service is as you know not the best, so when I picked up a Bionic, it was a breath of fresh air. Solid wireless network with an incredibly fast data network. Hardware: The device itself is also fast thanks to its 1GB of RAM and dual-core processor. It is definitely handling most of if not all of the tests we have put it through so far. Call Quality: The call quality on the Bionic is top notch and you can thank Motorola for that. Whatever it is that they do with radios, ear pieces, etc., should be followed by every other device manufacturer. Soft Keys: Not sure what it is, but I really like the soft keys on the Bionic. They seem bigger than normal and also easily touch-able. Styling: I have always been a fan of Motorola designs. Some hate the hump, I think it brings a little flair to the mobile world that is much needed. It matches up closely to the DROID3 which is another phone we really liked in the style department. Size: Yeah, it's big, but all phones these days are. It's smaller than all of the other Verizon 4G LTE phones and also doesn't have god-awful physical home keys made for 85 year olds.

And now the other stuff.

Battery Life: Not so hot so far. First day, after pulling the device out of the box with a 45% charge, I ran it until it almost died which took about 5 hours. Then yesterday, after dealing with charging woes that eventually went away, I was able to get it to 100% and then hammered on it for a good two hours. The results - phone had dropped down to 60%. Today will be a full day of testing, so let's not freak out too much just yet. I did want to point out that WiFi seems to be using an abnormal amount of battery though. Normally when at home, I toggle that on to save battery, but the Bionic appears to hate that theory. Today's test will include zero WiFi. Screen: It's PenTile Matrix and it's not awesome. We have been down this road a dozen times now, but as you all know, I'm not a fan of Motorola's screens. Colors are washed out, pixelized, not displayed correctly, and overall make the experience not what it could have been. I'm learning to live with it, but screen tech is something you shouldn't have to learn to live with. And wait, weren't these screens supposed to help with battery life? So far not living up to that reputation I'd say. Camera: Eh, it's not the best ever. If you have decent light, like middle of the day light, it takes pretty decent pictures. The constant focusing though is something that makes my blood boil. It should not take this long for a camera to focus. And if you get into a dimly lit area, the outcome can be hit or miss. Attached a few shots below from both the Bionic and Galaxy SII.

Bionic on the left | Galaxy SII on the right

(Click each for larger versions)

Lock Switch: Top left could be the worst position for a lock switch in history. Most people are right handed which means they also hold their phone in their right hand. In order to lock or unlock this phone, you either have to use your left hand or adjust your hold on the device to get all the way up there to do it with your right. (Edit: Having a good conversation about this in the comments. Time for a poll!) Bad Battery Cover: The battery cover on the unit that I'm using does not sit flush on the side with the HDMI port. What I'm left with is a really sharp plastic edge that makes it pretty uncomfortable to hold in hand. This could just be my poor luck, since the unit that Tato has appears to be fine. Once I get a new battery cover, I will let you guys know.

Other notes.

Internal Storage: People freaked out yesterday when they went into check out the storage of their device and realized that internally, it only showed as 8GB. "But what the hell! They told us 16GB!" Well, it does have 16GB, it's just been partitioned off so that you can't have access to it all. Part of it has been given to the OS and the other part to to "Application storage." If you add up the 4GB or so of app storage along with the internal you get to 12GB, which means that the OS (Blur) is taking up another 4GB.

Notification Light: Not sure where this ridiculous rumor started, but yes, it has a notification light. Root: You can root already. Instructions here. Unroot tool here.

Overall.

I'll try to make this quick. I'm liking the phone for the most part. Loving 4G LTE again. Loving the power and specs. Not a fan of the camera, screen and lock switch. I erased some of Blur with a home replacement and lock screen alternative. Wish the phone was slimmer. Happy to see a phone with Android 2.3.4. Will be giving it more time over the next week and will hopefully have even stronger opinions then. Any other thoughts you would like to add? Be sure to drop them below.

New Google TV with Honeycomb Gets Previewed at CEDIA

Kellen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:50:38 +0000

In the Sony booth at CEDIA, there is a Blu-ray Google TV box that is up and running Honeycomb in case any of you are in the area and want to get some hands-on time. The upgrade is expected to be out some time soon as a way to revive the struggling platform. We aren't sure if the Logitech Revue or this Sony unit will receive the update first, but the folks at Logitec are expecting it to arrive by the end of September. If you want to get a quick glimpse at the brand new OS that appears to make Google TV worth using again, jump into the video below. And afterwards, make a decision on whether or not you should go pick up a Logitech Revue for $99 - yeah, they are still available. [viddler id=fef9d09c&w=545&h=307] Via: Engadget

DROID2 R2-D2 Gingerbread Update is Ready, Yeah It Still Exists

Kellen — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:48:44 +0000

What, you thought the R2-D2 version of the DROID2 would be left out of the Gingerbread fun? OK, I'll admit that I did too, but apparently we were wrong. The 2.3 update appears to be ready (a support page usually indicates that) and could start rolling out within the next couple of weeks. Not sure if there will be a soak test or not. Too our R2 owners, be sure to let us know if you see anything after going to:

Settings>About phone>System updates

Cheers ___!

DROID2 Global Gingerbread Update Stopped Again, This Time to Fix Exchange Encryption Issue

Kellen — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:07:09 +0000

If you had not received the DROID2 Global Gingerbread update yet (which was rolling out this week), then don't expect to see it for the next week or so. The Moto team, along with soak test members, have discovered a Microsoft Exchange encryption issue that needs to be addressed. According to their forums manager, the issue has been pinpointed, but it will take some time to fix it and then push out again as an update. Hang in there. And to those of you that have already received it, I will just assume that a minor update will be issued to you. Via: Moto Forums Cheers Gasai!

NVIDIA CEO: Quad-core Tablets Still Coming this Year, Phones Likely Not Until 2012

Kellen — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:12:26 +0000

We love NVIDIA's CEO Jen-Hsun Huang here at Droid Life. The dude has a ton of energy, an addicting personality, and most importantly, loves for his company to push the envelope. After exploding onto the Android scene at CES this past January with their Tegra 2 dual-core chips, Huang wasted no time showing off what they had planned next - quad-core processors. Codenamed Kal-El, these were expected (still are) to be the world's first mobile quad-core processors with an estimated launch in tablets of this past August and in phones by the end of the year. Unfortunately due to setbacks, neither of those time frames will/has been met. Don't worry though, we are still expecting to see a quad-core of some sort this year, it just won't be in a phone. During a sit down with media this week, Huang mentioned that their time line has now changed. They still expect to launch quad-core tablets this year, but phones will likely be pushed into next year. He also announced plans to move into the mass-processor consumption market, meaning they will do more than just produce processors for superphones and tablets. On an interesting side note, Huang made a comment about his competitors - well there is only one according to him. During his chat with press, he pointed out that Qualcomm and NVIDIA are really the only two serious players in the game right now:

“We’re the only people seriously on the dance floor with Qualcomm,” contends Huang, who is known for being outspoken. “We’re really the only two active players [in the high-end mobile processor market].”

The funny thing here is that Google has already chosen a Texas Instruments processor to develop their next version of Android on. So while we just professed our love for Huang, we find it odd that he would take such a blatant cheap shot at TI. Is he miffed at the fact that they weren't chosen for Ice Cream Sandwich or does he really just think that TI processors are crap? Who knows exactly why he left them out, but it sure gave us a good laugh. Back to the point of the article...anyone saddened by the delay news? Are we surprised by delays anymore? Oh, and speaking of NVIDIA. We have goodies to give away. Stay tuned for those details. Via: Forbes

More DROID Bionic Deals From Costco and Lets Talk, Full "Armor" Commercial Returns (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:45:43 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-K71MpwCko[/youtube]

First things, first. Remember that DROID Bionic commercial that a reader submitted earlier in the week that featured Ms. Bionic dominating a series of robots? It's back and available in solid quality. You can watch it above. Costco Deal: If you are a Costco member, you can walk into a store (or order online) and pick up a Bionic Bundle for $279.99. What's in the bundle? A standard dock, battery charger, second battery, car charger, screen protectors, belt case, and a car dock that are valued at well over $150. Talk about a steal. We are hearing that these bundles are selling out fast though, so jump over to their site now or cruise to your nearest store today. Lets Talk Deal: Not quite as good as the Costco deal, but you can grab the phone for as little as $199 on a new 2-year contract which is $100 cheaper than you'll find it at Verizon. Update: Amazon just dropped their price to $179. Battle! Buy: Costco | LetsTalk Cheers Brian, Jeff, Mike and Nigel!

Rumored Nexus Prime Specs Leak Out: Curved 4.65" HD Screen, New Name Too?

Eric — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:30:55 +0000

Only a week after a support page for the GT-19250 went live, and showed that the Nexus Prime is getting close to retail stores, now there are a few rumors floating around of what kind of specs the phone will actually have.

An anonymous tipster came to GSM Arena with a few specs about the unannounced phone. First off they said the screen would be curved just like the Nexus S and that it will only be 8.8mm thin rocking a metal chassis. The tipster confirmed the 4.65-inch screen on the phone as well. A late October launch was mentioned, which would be after the i*hone and near the time that ICS would be getting announced.

But probably the most disappointing tip that was released was that the phone might not be called the Nexus Prime after all. The tipster said that the 'Galaxy Nexus' would probably be more appropriate name for the device since it is coming from Samsung. Until there is an official announcement we're going to keep using the awesome Nexus Prime logo for our stories. Sounds like we're getting close to the end. Only a month away!

Via: GSMArena

How to: Root the Motorola DROID Bionic

Kellen — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:52:33 +0000

We knew from last week that the current Motorola Gingerbread rooting method would work on the Bionic, but just in case you needed some extra proof, we have it for you along with instructions. It took me all of 3 minutes and my device was rooted and feeling much happier about life. And no, this has nothing to do with the bootloader - we are still hoping for a miracle or magical break-through on that front. Download: MotorolaOneClickRoot.zip Instructions: 1. Make sure you have Motorola drivers installed - [Download Drivers] 2. Download the MotorolaOneClickRoot.zip file from above and unzip it to your Windows PC. 3. On your phone go into Settings>Applications>Development and check the box for USB Debugging. 4. Plug phone into your computer and select “Charge Only” mode. 5. Navigate to MotorolaOneClickRoot folder and run MotorolaOneClickRoot.exe. 6. Follow the instructions in the command window. 7. Your phone will complete 3 steps, rebooting along the way. When it finishes, you will be rooted. *Note - Our buddy @P3Droid is under the impression that a fix to this rooting method is on the way in the near future for both the D3 and Bionic. If you want to be rooted going forward, you may want to do this now and then deny any OTA updates that may pop up in the next week or so. Have fun! Full support can be found at this RootzWiki thread. Cheers again to @djrbliss for the exploit and to psouza4 and Framework43 for putting this together!

Max Payne Getting HD Mobile Treatment Early Next Year

Eric — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 09:14:55 +0000

In a press release this morning, Rockstar Games the company behind games like Red Dead: Redemption and Grand Theft Auto spoke about some details of their refresh of the bloody, dark noire Max Payne series. One of the interesting tidbits from the release said that that Rockstar was giving the original Max Payne a full mobile makeover. While Rockstar didn't come out and say that the game would be featured on Android as a platform they mentioned "taking advantage of the latest mobile technologies, including incredibly customizable controls and support for wired controllers." The latest mobile technologies brings to mind the Kal-El processors that are right around the corner. And last that I heard, the i*ad is not really all about 'customization.' So this remains to be seen how it will play out. Max Payne 3 is set to drop around March of next year and it would be a safe assumption for Rockstar to launch this alongside the game for more marketing purposes. Any gamers in the audience that have played through Max Payne before? Plan on getting this on your phone or tablet when it comes around to the market? Via: Android and Me, Gamasutra

Tip: Turn Off Those Obnoxious 3D Animations on the DROID Bionic

Kellen — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:10:58 +0000

Just wanted to throw out one more tip this morning for new DROID Bionic owners to consider. With the new version of Blur that Moto has decided to give us, comes a pretty overwhelming and ~~at times slow~~, 3D animation between almost every screen transition. When you jump from app to app or home to app or home to app drawer, you'll notice this transition right away. While it make look semi-pretty at first, you may realize that you can accomplish things much faster without it. Thankfully Motorola built in a "No animations" toggle so you can rid your world of flashy fluff. To turn off animations, start from your home screen and do the following:

Menu>Settings>Display>Animation

Once you tap on Animation, tap on "No animations" to make your phone even faster. *Note - The only bad thing about doing this, is the fact that it also kills the CRT screen-off animation. Not sure why Moto did not leave that as a standard option since it was built-in to Android 2.3, but we find that attempting to figure out why they have made certain decisions over the last few years has lead to an uncountable number of headaches. *Note 2 - Since the Bionic haters took my "slow" comment to meaning the device sucks, let me clarify. The phone isn't slowed by the transitions, the transitions themselves are just annoyingly slow. It's just a part of Blur and has nothing to do with phone performance. Anything else you can think of?

Tip: How to Turn Off 4G LTE on the DROID Bionic

Kellen — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 07:36:13 +0000

If you plan to pick up a DROID Bionic today, then here is a little tip for those of you not in 4G LTE areas yet and those of you that wish to save a little battery from time to time. Unlike the Thunderbolt at launch (although it does now), the Bionic has a built-in network mode that allows you to toggle between having 4G LTE on or using CDMA (3G) only. To turn off 4G LTE, do the following from your home screen:

Menu>Settings>Wireless & networks>Mobile networks>Network Mode

Once you tap on Network Mode, tell it to use either both 3G and LTE or just 3G. Let us know if you run into any other tips!

DROID Bionic Now Available Online

Tim — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 22:22:19 +0000

If you are looking to scoop up the DROID Bionic, now is the time. After seemingly the longest wait in Android history, you can now pick up the Bionic through the Verizon site and even Amazon. Through Verizon you can grab it for $299 with a new 2-year contract and a cool $589 if purchased contract free. Amazon has a nice deal going where it will only cost you $199 with a new two year or $249 with a renewal, but a whopping $699 if purchased with no plan. If you missed it, we went hands-on today for the first time since January, and this phone is a definite looker. See our first impressions here. Who's picking one up tonight? Links to order online: Verizon | Amazon Cheers Samuel, Gene, Dan and Jamie!

HTC Files Another Lawsuit Against Apple, Using Newly Acquired Patents From Google/Moto

Tim — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:35:49 +0000

Google is no longer playing games when attacks are made against Android and Android device manufacturers. HTC has just filed an amended lawsuit against Apple Inc to the US International Trade Commission, and cited in the suit are nine specific patents which HTC has been recently granted from Google just last week. Specifics have not been released as to which patents Apple is infringing upon, but details are sure to emerge shortly. Are the newest 'gifts' from Google enough to help HTC defend itself from the giant known as Apple Inc? Via: BGR

Hands-on with the DROID Bionic by Motorola (Updated: Video Added)

Kellen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:34:20 +0000

And a DROID Bionic is in our possession. I obviously haven't had enough time with it to do a full review or anything, but can give you my first impressions on a device that has been 9 painful months in the making. So what do I think of Verizon's first dual-core and 4G LTE device? All good so far. I am loving the feel in hand - the build quality lives up to Moto standards. It's a heck of a lot lighter than I expected it to be. Is thinner than I expected it to be. Is definitely snappier than the DROID3 even though they have almost identical specs, aside from the doubling of the RAM of course. "But what about the screen? Is it PenTile Matrix?" Yes, unfortunately it is. However, it's not completely killing my eyes at this moment. You can definitely see some black pixels and some not-so-straight lines, along with it struggling to produce green. This will be a problem, but we are going to try our best to not focus just on that as one of its downfalls. Again, so far I am really liking the phone. With that said, let's not jump to any crazy conclusions until we have some real time with it to decide if it should be your next device or if you should pass on it for the HTC Vigor or Nexus Prime. Gallery after the jump! (Video added) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s641K-KZs6E[/youtube] [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"]

HTC Rhyme Receives DLNA Certification

Tim — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:00:30 +0000

There is not much information on the web about the device code named the HTC Rhyme. What we do know is that we are set to see it September 29th, and that it will run around $199, thanks to a leaked MAP sheet. We have been thinking the device will be a mid-level Android phone coupled with HTC's newly acquired Beats technology, and could have possible world capabilities. On the 2nd of September, the Rhyme passed through DLNA certification with model number ADR6330VW, matching that of the HTC Bliss. Guess we'll be seeing very soon what this device truly holds in store for Verizon customers. Anyone thinking we should hypebeast the HTC Rhyme alongside the HTC Vigor or Samsung Prime? Via: Ameblo

Samsung Stratosphere Makes Its Way Through the FCC, Verizon 4G LTE Included

Kellen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:05:34 +0000

If you must have a phone with a physical keyboard but also want connectivity to Verizon's 4G LTE network, then your option in the very near future will be the Samsung Stratosphere. It won't be the top tier Samsung phone that we were all hoping for, but there is a chance that we will still get that closer to X-mas. This phone however, is at least in pictures, looking like a re-hash of Sprint's Epic 4G which is well over a year old now. If you are not fully familiar with that phone, I'll try to catch you up quickly. The Epic 4G has a 1GHz single-core processor, a 4" Super AMOLED (not Plus) screen, dual cameras, and not much else. I don't mean to crush the hopes of those of you that plan on buying this device, but after seeing T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T roll out brand new Galaxy S II variants that will all be out in the coming weeks, I can't help but show a little frustration. They all get Super AMOLED Plus screens, dual-core 1.4GHz processors, 1GB of RAM, Android 2.3 and Verizon customers get something from 2010 that wasn't next-gen then and will likely be Bing'd out.

Previously rumored release date had this pegged for September 8. With this FCC filing just now popping up and no mention of the device from either Big Red or our various MAP lists, I'd say we should not expect it tomorrow. Via: FCC

With The Growing Market Of Android Tablets, SmrtGuard Wants You To Be Safe

Tim — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:46:25 +0000

Seems like there are plenty of apps out there that stress the importance of checking your smart-device for security threats, whether it be malicious software or to protect it from theft. Lookout has seemed to be the 'go to' for most people concerned with their device's safety. There is another player on the field though, called SmrtGuard. SmrtGuard is not a new player in the world of mobile security, but they have just beefed up their app to allow for Android tablet support. And like some other security apps, it has the function to remotely secure your files, OTA backup and restore, block all unwanted calls, and a seriously long list of other features. They have two options for users to choose from - a free option, and a paid option. The paid option is going to run users $2.49 per month or $17.99 for an entire year for one device. Does $18 for the peace of mind sound agreeable? For some that might sound a bit outrageous, but what do you think? And as a friendly reminder, when downloading 3rd party media, make sure you trust the source it's coming from, and check application permissions. The best defense people have against attacks, is their own common knowledge. Market Link What apps, if any, are you using to protect yourselves from outside threats? Lookout? AVG? Webroot?

SwiftKey Reaches 10 Billion Keystrokes Saved Milestone - Begins Vizio Tablet Giveaway

Tim — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:00:35 +0000

We have plenty of people here who love them some SwiftKey. It is one of the top alternative keyboard choices for Android alongside Swype and FlextT9. SwiftKey has just announced that they have saved users a combined 10 billion keystrokes thanks to their word-predicting engine. And to celebrate, are giving away tablets, launches of trial applications, and support for six new languages. If you want to get in on the fun, and happen to be a SwiftKey user, then follow these easy instructions to enter yourself in to win a Vizio tablet.

To enter the drawing, SwiftKey users are being asked to tweet how many keystrokes they have saved – a stat available in their app’s settings – along with the hashtag #SKX10bn. And for Android users yet to try SwiftKey, the company has just launched two new free trial apps, so users can give the award-winning technology a shot and then submit their tweet. One winner will then be randomly chosen and contacted via direct message at the end of each day.

If you choose to enter, then good luck to you. I would love for people to put down in the comment section how many keystrokes they have saved. Are Droid Life readers anywhere near at least a billion? Via: SwiftKey, SwiftKey Twitter

Eric Schmidt: Ice Cream Sandwich Coming in October or November

Kellen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:30:28 +0000

We already knew that Ice Cream Sandwich would be released some time in Q4 of this year after seeing it announced at Google I/O, but Eric Schmidt just helped narrow the time frame for us to salivate through. During a sit-down at Salesforce.com's Dreamforce conference, Schmidt was going through a brief history of Android and then let it slip that the current plan is for ICS (rumored to be Android 4.0) to debut in October/November:

We have a new operating system, internally known as Ice Cream Sandwich for some reason, which is being released in October/November, which everyone's really excited about.

Fast forward to the 30:00 mark to catch his quick quote. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDl5hb0XbfY[/youtube] So what does that mean for the next Nexus device? Well, if we look back at history (excluding the XOOM), a device running the newest version of Android usually ships within a month of that version's release. If ICS debuts at the end of October or early November, then I'd say we are looking at a Thanksgiving or early December release for the Nexus Prime. Hello X-mas present? Via: Android and Me

Google Offers Expands to Seattle, Denver, Austin, Boston and DC Starting Today

Kellen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:05:23 +0000

Back in April, Google Offers launched through three introductory cities: NYC, Portland and the Bay Area. Today, five new cities have been added to the list as a sign that this service is going no where any time soon. Deal shoppers in Austin, Boston, Denver, Seattle and the D.C. area can sign up and get to purchasing this very minute. We should also point out that Facebook axed their Deals department just days ago. Interesting to say the least. More info on each city's initial offers. Sign up here.

Remember the DROID Prime Boot Animation? It's Now Available for Download

Kellen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:30:44 +0000

Our buddy carlz28 has finished the DROID Prime (we know that name is likely not real) boot animation that he unveiled to us last Friday. He has made some slight tweaks, but overall is just as good (if not better) than you remember. It can be flashed to almost any phone in either /system/media or /data/local with or without root. Rooted users can simply move the file using your favorite file explorer, while non-rooted users will have to use ADB. The sound file is sort of a toss up, but if you find a way to get it working, be sure to share in the comments. Download: nexus _prime_animation.zip (both files zipped into one) Via: RootzWiki

Jelly Wars - Angry Birds Meets Worms

Tim — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:47:43 +0000

Kellex and myself are always finding games where we can duke it out in for glory. Our newest favorite is a game called Jelly Wars, and if anyone remembers the old game Worms, then you might feel a bit nostalgic. There are two orbs on the playing field - one red, and one blue. You must fling (like Angry Birds) explosives across different maps and obstacles to blow your opponent up. Sounds easy right? It's a serious 'blast', so if you feel like taking on the world, Kellex and myself included, then head over to the Market and pick it up. There is a free version w/ ads, and then a pro version which includes chat capabilities, and no advertisements. Market Link: Pro Version ($1.49 no ads + chat) Free Version (ads + no chat) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFgYm1LNgLM[/youtube]

Customers Already Ordering DROID Bionics Via Verizon Telesales

Kellen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:47:57 +0000

A few readers have been successful at calling Verizon's sales line and placing orders for the DROID Bionic even though it doesn't technically arrive until tomorrow. Some are even reporting that their devices will ship today with an estimated arrival time of tomorrow - the same day it launches in stores. To attempt to place your order now and not wait in line at a store tomorrow, feel free to call *611 or 1-800-256-4646. It will also likely be available online around midnight tonight. Cheers branshaw09 and everyone else!

Nexus Prime Name Confirmed Through Samsung Site?

Kellen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:17:20 +0000

If that cease and desist letter that rolled out to an Android community developer from Samsung wasn't all-that-believable, then maybe this xml file found on their very own site is. If you were looking for proof that the next Nexus will be known as the Prime, then this might be just what you were looking for. Can you see it up there? The model number GT-I9250 and that little "nexusprime.xml" spot. With that said, this UA profile isn't blowing anyone's mind with specs. Is that a 480x800 screen resolution? What happened to that HD goodness? Don't freak out just yet, as this could be a place holder that needs to be updated...hopefully. Can you imagine Google not doing their part to give us the next godly-spec'd phone? I guess they skimped on the Nexus S, but with this phone launching with Ice Cream Sandwich, I would imagine that it will blow minds. Via: Samsung, This is my next Cheers Jigga_z and everyone else!

Gingerbread for the DROID Incredible Rolling Out Now

Kellen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 07:16:48 +0000

We have heard from a number of readers this morning who received the Gingerbread (Android 2.3.4) update for the DROID Incredible. HTC told us September and there were a few reports of users receiving it over the weekend, but it looks like the mass rollout has started this morning. Head on into Settings>Software update/About phone and check to see! Cheers Ironclad131, Andy, and Mike!

Verizon Makes September 8th Official for the DROID Bionic, the Wait is Finally Over

Kellen — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 06:20:29 +0000

We first saw a phone that went by the name of DROID Bionic almost 9 months ago to the day back at CES in Las Vegas and were told then that it was "the end of waiting." Since then, we have gone through a series of questions on why it wasn't initially equal in power to its cousin over at AT&T followed by a decision to delay the phone we saw in favor of a new model. This new model would be known internally as the Targa, and was created to try and compete with the upcoming super phones from other manufacturers - something its predecessor certainly could not do. So after months of delays, speculation, and leaks, we are finally here. Verizon has unleashed the beast (well, tomorrow they will) to the world for $299 on 2-year contract or somewhere around $589 without one. Can it "rule all machines"? Can its upgraded parts compete with the super phones that are expected to launch in the very near future? Is it overhyped or are the haters clueless? I guess we'll soon find out when the masses flock to pick it up in 1 short day. There is not a pre-order as Verizon is likely hoping to build up buzz by having customers head into stores for a change. We still are not sure if there will be lines, but locations selling the phone should be busier than normal as the marketing machine will be revving its engines. There are zero surprises, which isn't necessarily a bad thing - we have just seen this thing leak more times than almost any phone known to man. It's a 1GHz dual-core OMAP processor, 4.3" qHD display, 1GB RAM, Android 2.3.4, front and rear cameras, and of course, 4G LTE. We have heard nothing but positive things from the lucky few that have had their hands on it since devices arrived in stores last week. Our own testing will take place soon enough. So, are you ready for it or just glad that the "end of waiting" is finally over with?

VERIZON WIRELESS AND MOTOROLA RAISE THE BAR WITH DROID BIONIC™ BY MOTOROLA

Unsurpassed Power, Speed and Entertainment On the Fastest, Most Advanced 4G LTE Network in America
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today announced DROID BIONIC™ by Motorola will be exclusively available beginning Sept. 8. DROID BIONIC is the first Verizon Wireless smartphone to combine 4G LTE with the power of dual-core 1 GHz processors, 1 GB of RAM and a stunning 4.3-inch qHD display – all in a sleek form factor that makes it the thinnest 4G LTE smartphone from Verizon Wireless. Customers can expect to fly across the Web on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network with download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage areas. DROID BIONIC introduces a host of groundbreaking applications and accessories that turn the device into a multimedia hub, a ruler of remote access and a purveyor of virtuality.   DROID BIONIC introduces ZumoCast™ by Motorola, an application that lets customers bring their digital world of videos, music, pictures and documents stored on their computers to their handset via remote access. With its revolutionary Webtop application, DROID BIONIC can beam a full-featured Firefox^® Web browser 4.0, email or documents to a TV or monitor, like the separately purchased Lapdock™ with a 11.6” screen, keyboard and integrated trackpad. Accessories such as the HD Station let DROID BIONIC users turn the phone into an entertainment center or home office. Customers can view pictures, video, and content from the DROID BIONIC on any HDTV or monitor by connecting a separately sold HDMI cable. They can also take a conference call while editing documents and surfing the Web. And, of course, the DROID BIONIC lets customers share their 4G LTE signal with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices when they activate the Verizon Wireless Mobile Hotspot. The device of the future today, the DROID BIONIC also includes the following features:

·         Powered by Android™ 2.3.4 Gingerbread

·         Dual-core 1 GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM

·         4.3-inch qHD screen using scratch-resistant Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass with dual-layer anti-reflective coating

·         8-megapixel autofocus camera with flash and 1080p HD video capture

·         Front-facing camera for video chat over 4G LTE, 3G or Wi-Fi

·         MOTOPRINT app to print via Wi-Fi-enabled printers

·         Mirror Mode with HDMI out (HDMI cable required) supporting 1080p HD video playback

·         Multi-window options for multitasking with ease when using the Webtop application

·         Business Ready with advanced security policies; resizable and scrollable email, calendar and task widgets; device and SD card encryption; and Citrix^® GotoMeeting^® and Citrix Receiver™ for Android

·         Adobe^® Flash^® pre-loaded

·         HTML 5 capable

·         32 GB memory: 16 GB on board and 16 GB microSD™ card pre-installed (actual formatted capacity is less)

·         Support for up to 32 GB microSD cards

·         Supports wireless charger

Pricing and availability:

·         DROID BIONIC by Motorola will be available in Verizon Wireless Communication Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com on Sept. 8 for $299.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

·         Customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for 450 minutes per month and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

·         Verizon Wireless Mobile Hotspot data plans are available beginning at $30 for 2 GB.

·         For a limited time, customers who purchase a Lapdock with the DROID BIONIC can receive a $100 mail-in rebate when subscribing to a $50, 5 GB data plan or higher.

Available accessories:

·         The Lapdock will be available for $299.97, the HD Station will be available for $99.99 and the Adapter for Webtop Application will be available for $29.99.

·         Vehicle Navigation Dock delivers easy access to maps, favorite contacts, hands-free calling, music, navigation and more and supports streaming of audio and music via the 3.5 mm audio jack, if available, to play through vehicle speakers. The Vehicle Navigation Dock will be available for $39.99.

·         The Battery Dock with standard battery is a pocket-sized accessory with an extra battery included to charge both DROID BIONIC and an extra battery at the same speed as a wall charger. The Battery Dock will be available for $49.99.

For more 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. For more information on accessories, visit www.verizonwireless.com/accessories. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 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 Motorola Mobility Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) 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. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. Adobe and Adobe Flash are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. Citrix is a trademark of Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, and may be registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.   © 2011 Motorola Mobility, Inc. All rights reserved.

New DROID Bionic Commercial Airs - Ninja Chick Destroys Machines, Pieces Together Device

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:48:46 +0000

After we released the official DROID Bionic teaser to the world a week or so ago, many were wondering what it had to do with the actual device. It featured a Natalie Portman-esque ninja chick who appeared to chop the head off of a robot in some sort of arena. That was it though. But now thanks to a quick tipster, we have the next commercial (a full 1:00 long spot) that is apparently airing as we type this. This new spot features that same lovely lady, only it goes deep into her battle with machines. Each time she kills one, she takes a piece of its core which just so happen to be an 8MP/1080p camera, HDMI port, dual-core processor and 4G LTE - all specs of the new Bionic. Starting to make sense now? After destroying each machine, she plugs the parts into another machine which gives us the first look (in a commercial anyway) at the device. Good stuff. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyLubOCWsbY[/youtube] Cheers Chris!

DROID3 Update Coming This Month, Soak Test Set to Begin

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:26:32 +0000

DROID3 owners have been begging for an update after the device launched to hopefully help fix an odd battery issue and also add in Google Talk with Video. According to an email that was sent out to a number of our readers, that update will arrive some time this month. A soak test for members of Motorola's Feedback Network will be invited to grab the update early (as in the next couple of days) and report back on any serious bugs. After that, the rest of you will be able to enjoy. Cheers M and E!

Another DROID Charge Android 2.3.4 Build Leaked (EP1W)

Tim — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:20:48 +0000

The good people over at My Droid World have just blessed the DROID Charge community with another Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), build EP1W. Flashing isn't all that difficult if you are comfortable with Samsung Internal Flash Utility or using Odin. But as always, be sure to read instructions, and be safe. We would feel really bad if you end up bricking your device. We should mention that there was talk of an official release for the Charge back in August, but that has long gone now. For downloads, and instructions, feel free to click the via link, down below. Who here is rocking the Charge? Rooted? Unrooted? Let us know. Via: MyDroidWorld

ScreenCast & Screen Recorder Is The Application We have Been Waiting For

Tim — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:47:58 +0000

For some rooted users, taking screenshots to show off your phones setup is good enough. But for other Superusers (root user pun, anybody?) taking screen shots just isn't enough. In comes ScreenCast - with the ability to take clean and high quality screen recordings. This is the app many have been waiting for. Not too long ago, ShootMe introduced their take on screen casting with their apps updated version, but the quality, and smoothness people were hoping for just wasn't there. ScreenCast & Screen Recorder has the ability to change quality, record great video, then upload and share right from the app. That's a huge win. The application will run you $3.00 for the premium version, but don't worry, there is also a intrdoductory verison for everyone to try out too. Definitely worth the $3 if you love showing off your phone's setups. Feel free to download, then show off your phones down below. Check the video here to see me show off mine.

Rooted Users Only

Market Link: Pro Verison | Free Verison [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWdoYU9nlEs[/youtube]

Feelin' Lazy? Play the DROID Bionic Scavenger Hunt from Home on a Computer

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:14:37 +0000

If you are stuck all day at work and unable to participate in the DROID Bionic scavenger hunt that ends in about 31 hours, then you may want to check out this semi-secret site. It's the scavenger hunt, only you don't have to leave home to participate or download that silly augmented reality app. All you have to do is wait for the next game to begin, click "Hunt" and start cruising around on Google Maps. Navigating around the map is by no means easy, but it will certainly save you some gas and some app memory on that OG DROID. Play here. Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Contest: Enter the Annual Droid Life Football Eliminator Challenge, Win a FREE Phone

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:42:23 +0000

As you can probably tell after almost 2 years, we are huge sports fans and love to give away prizes to readers every chance we get. So just as we did last year, we are launching another NFL Eliminator style challenge, but are upping the grand prize. What on Earth could you possibly win this year? How does a brand new phone of your choice sound? We would attempt to pick a specific device, but by the time the NFL regular season wraps up in January, we will likely have a new batch of phones that blow the current models out of the water. So when the time comes that we have a winner and all others are eliminated, we will let you choose what phone you want (sans iPhone of course) up to $600 in value. Everyone ready to win a brand new phone? Here we go... Join the group here: Droid Life Eliminator Password: droidlife Simple rules for those new to eliminator chalenges: 1. Join the league up above. Create an entry for yourself. Get ready to pick winners. 2. Since this is an eliminator challenge, you only have to pick 1 winner each week. 3. Remember though, that you only get to use a team one time and cannot pick them to win again. 4. If you choose correctly each week, you continue to advance. 5. If you choose incorrectly, you are out. There are no mulligans in football or this league. 6. If that didn't make sense, check out the full "How to Play" rules here. 7. If we run into another tiebreaker like last year, we will decide based on these rules. We'll try to remind folks to make their picks each week, but cannot guarantee that we'll remember. If we do though, it will be on Twitter, so be sure to follow us there. Good luck everyone! First game is Thursday, but I would stay far from it if I were you.

New Wireless Beats by Dre Headphones for Mobile Devices Land at the FCC

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:05:50 +0000

Just after HTC announced a new partnership with Beats by Dre, we started to wonder if there would be changes to the headphones that they produce since well, the current versions are not made to work properly with Android devices (at least to receive calls anyway). According to a new FCC filing, a revamped and wireless version that can pair via Bluetooth is on the way, which we are assuming means it has been tweaked to allow for more than just iPhone calling. One of the first HTC devices that is rumored to be receiving Beats support is the Vigor, a phone that we have the first pictures of here. We were told to expect the first devices with Beats some time in the "Fall", so I would say that October 6 is still in play thanks to this FCC filing. Wireless Beats for your Vigor? Yes, please. Unless of course it gets earbuds and not the ones pictured above. Via: FCC, Wireless Goodness

HTC Sense 3.5 Port Coming to a DROID Incredible Near You (Updated: Incredible 2 Too)

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:10:44 +0000

It was only a matter of time, right? Last week we saw a version of HTC's Sense 3.5 ported over to the Desire, so forming a team to work on bringing it to the DROID Incredible just seemed like a logical next step. And after looking at these screenshots, you can see that the team has made some progress by getting it booted and then fixing a ton of initial bugs in just a short few days. You won't find a test build to flash at this time, so try as best as you can to remain patient. The 13-man team is working hard to get this out to the masses as soon as possible.

And to get an idea of what to expect from HTC Sense 3.5, watch this video again: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V-CvDbicTg[/youtube] Follow the progress at this XDA thread. Update: It looks like a build is already available for the Incredible 2. Granted, it is a MySense 3.5 port which is part Sense 3.5 and part T-Mobile garbage, but at least it's a start. Jump on it! Support thread here. Cheers frostincredible!

Sprint Files Suit to Block Proposed AT&T and T-Mobile Merger [from AL]

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 10:12:38 +0000

Sprint really hates the idea of AT&T and T-Mobile joining forces. After months of public criticism towards the proposed merger, they have now filed suit as a related case to the one filed just last week by the Department of Justice. Here is a quote from Sprint's VP of litigation:

“Sprint opposes AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile,” said Susan Z. Haller, vice president-Litigation, Sprint. “With today’s legal action, we are continuing that advocacy on behalf of consumers and competition, and expect to contribute our expertise and resources in proving that the proposed transaction is illegal.”

Yeah, it has officially gone grimey up in here. More coverage at Android Life.

DROID2 Global Gingerbread 4.5.607 Update Rolling Out to All

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:55:15 +0000

If you own a DROID2 Global and are completely stock, you will want to cruise into Settings>About phone>System updates and grab the Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) update for your device now. The update was originally supposed to roll out back in June, but after Motorola realized that they needed to refine their 2.3 builds a bit, it was pulled. With the changelog for the update returning last week though, and with a bunch of additional enhancements, we knew we were close. "Close" just so happened to be this weekend. Everyone receive it? All we have left now is the DROID Pro. Cheers Dylan, John, Brendan and Eric!

Call of Duty Team Announces Android App At CoD XP 2011

Eric — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:20:19 +0000

This past week there was a little shindig going down in Los Angeles. Call of Duty decided to throw a party for its fans and what a party it was - there were paintball battles, real life CoD maps laid out for people to see and somewhere in the vicinity of 2,000 Xboxs on hand. But one interesting piece that came from the event was that there would be an Android, and iOS, application coming out soon with the release of Modern Warfare 3. Now, this isn't going to be a game by any means. This will be an application that ties directly into CoD's new stat-tracking and social networking experiment called Call of Duty: Elite. This application will definitely allow you to look at your loadouts in-game through your phone and let you make changes while you're on the go. Those changes will be waiting for you when you get back to the game later on in the day. Cool, huh? Since I got to beta test CoD: Elite (my full story here) I can see that this application will most likely allow you to track your stats for bragging rights when you're out with your buddies. If they decide to fully implement all that Elite offers it'll even allow you to look up maps from the game which provide spawn points and other intel and will give you videos that you can watch that are made by CoD players and even some videos breaking down how to use certain guns. Unfortunately there hasn't been a definite release date for this application yet, but look for it around the time MW:3 drops, November 8. Should be an interesting little application if it lives up to what CoD: Elite was about. Any gamers out there excited at this news? Via: Phandroid

DROIDX Gingerbread 4.5.602 SBF Released

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:42:03 +0000

DROIDX users, here is your Gingerbread safety blanket. And with 2.3 on all Moto devices so easily rooted, this is one of those files you definitely want to grab in case your phone ever gets stuck in a position that may need to be fully wiped. New RSD Lite also released. Download: 4.5.602 SBF | RSD Lite 5.4.4 Enjoy. Via: MyDroidWorld Cheers Rocko!

DROID Prime Receives WiFi Certification, Nexus Prime Jumps Into Bluetooth SIG

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:58:20 +0000

I know, I know. We all share a similar opinion that the "DROID Prime" is a pretty unlikely name for the rumored Samsung device running Ice Cream Sandwich that is headed to Verizon, but it's easy enough to refer to. So hang in there while we continue to use that name until we find something more suitable or semi-official. With that said, it (SCH-I515) received its WiFi certification at the end of last week, helping us check off another launch list item. And in similar news, the "Nexus Prime" (GT-I9250)cruised through Bluetooth SIG which is another item we like to cross off of launch lists. Not much else was given in each of these filings, but with each having received both Bluetooth and WiFi certifications now, I'd say we should start learning additional details any day now. Rumored dates currently have the device headed for either an October or November launch - we are leaning towards the latter.

Via: Bluetooth SIG, Wi-Fi.org

Verizon Airs New NFL Spot With Bionic, Season Starts Thursday

Kellen — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 07:37:51 +0000

With the 2011 NFL season kicking off on Thursday night, Verizon has unleashed its latest ad to remind us all that their NFL Mobile app is the place to feed your addiction while on the go. 4G LTE subscribers get to enjoy the app's "premium" for free and that includes the DROID Bionic. Wait, hasn't that not been announced yet? No, actually it hasn't and we are just two days from launch. That certainly hasn't stopped them from putting on display in numerous ads though. Oh, and with the season starting in just two days, that means it's time to launch our annual Droid Life Football Pick'em Contest. We will have details later this afternoon. Prizes will most definitely be upped this year. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUD8TO6GT64[/youtube]

Here is Your Samsung Stratosphere, Just an Epic 4G with LTE

Kellen — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:56:38 +0000

We were once hot and heavy over the Samsung Stratosphere as we hoped that it would turn into the Galaxy S II variant for Verizon. But once our sources confirmed to us that it was simply a re-hash of Sprint's Epic 4G with LTE built-in, we were turned off. Does the world really need another original Galaxy S phone? Think Fascinate with a slideout keyboard. We fully understand that there are a group of users that will always require a physical keyboard, but what happened to pumping out next-gen devices? With the Bionic, Vigor and Prime all around the corner, consider us confused. The Stratosphere is currently rumored to be headed to stores alongside the Bionic this Thursday. Expect it to be one of the least expensive LTE phones we have seen to date. Interested? Via: PocketNow

Download: DROID Bionic Eye Live Wallpaper

Kellen — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:43:20 +0000

Our buddy Legion pulled a bunch of goodies from his DROID Bionic last night, one being the Red Eye live wallpaper. He deodexed and recompiled to make it work on any device running 2.1 or above. It's interactive, has a couple of options that can be tweaked to hopefully keep your battery alive for a bit, and brings a piece of a phone that has been 9 months in the making to your home screen. Download: DroidBionicEyeLWbyDL.apk | Mirror To install, simply download the file from above onto your phone. When it finishes, tap "Install." Then back out to home and set it as your wallpaper. Enjoy! Cheers Legion!

This Week In The Life Of DROID: 9/2/2011

Tim — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:18:48 +0000

Well, folks, the time is upon us. Next week, the hypebeast goes into slumber until the next ~~big thing~~ HTC Vigor comes our way. It's been quite the ride waiting for the DROID Bionic to make its debut. Even though it still hasn't been officially announced. I was just speaking with Kellex about how all the way back in January of this year we were playing with an earlier build of the DROID Bionic at CES, and then all of a sudden it disappeared. It has been 8 months since then, and we are now just a week away. Lord, help us.

Hope everyone has a great weekend, and stay safe!

Unofficial DROID Prime Boot Animation Brings Us Back to our Childhood

Kellen — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:02:52 +0000

After seeing the DROID Prime logo that one of our readers had created, carlz28 from RootzWiki decided to tweak it slightly and then start working on turning it into a boot animation. It's pretty much the coolest thing we have seen in a while. It is not available for anyone to flash to their phones at this time, but we are sure it will be shortly. Click here to view it. (best viewed on a computer) Via: RootzWiki Cheers Pish Posh!

Amazon To Release 7-Inch 'Amazon Kindle' Near End Of November

Tim — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:31:50 +0000

A huge report filed by TechCrunch, has all the goods on Amazon's new 7" tablet being released this winter. The tablet, entitled simply as the "Amazon Kindle", will run at $250, and will even run a completely redesigned interface. That's right - no Gingerbread, and no Honeycomb. We have known that Amazon has had plans to release two tablets, one 7" inch, and one 10" inch. It is said that if the new, full color, back-lit Kindle does well on the market, then Amazon could, and might possibly release the 10" in Q1 of 2012. The tablet itself, reportedly has no physical buttons, and is all touch screen controlled. The tablet is two-finger multi-touch enabled, and will have all of Amazon's services built right in: Music player, App Store, etc. Is a $250 full color Amazon Kindle going to end up under your Christmas tree this year? Let us know your thoughts. Via: TechCrunch

One More Big Ol' DROID Bionic Gallery Before the Weekend

Kellen — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:05:17 +0000

As you probably read from our post earlier, DROID Bionic shipments and launch kits are arriving in stores today. Reports from a variety of our sources have had their hands on the device and so far, seem to be very pleased with it. Most are impressed, even surprised, by how light it feels in hand. The phone apparently boots up incredibly fast and has little home screen redraw, something that bothered us immensely on the DROID3. The camera is also supposed to be greatly improved - maybe that means they fixed the blue issue from the D3? The screen is definitely a PenTile matrix, but depending on who you talk to and which picture you look at, it's tough to tell how bad it is. This is one of those times again, where we recommend you actually get your hands on the phone and decide for yourself. Some love the screens that Motorola has chosen to use this year, while others would rather chew on a bar of soap. What we have for you today though, is one more big ol' gallery of pictures of the phone to take us into the weekend. The phone will be here next week, which means we can get ready for the HTC Vigor, hopefully start to hear a ton of news on the DROID Prime and whether or not it exists, and then get prepared for the holiday device push. Everyone breath and have a fantastic weekend. Comparisons to the DX, some side angles, and another look at that sweet launch kit below. [gallery link="file" order="DESC" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Cheers jikhead!

Samsung Enters the Home Replacement Arena, We Try to Understand Why

Kellen — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:51:01 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRwaR4GyLmU[/youtube]

Samsung's mobile lab in San Diego pumped out a new home replacement this week called Pure Breeze (hold the laughter) and we are for the most part confused by it. We can't tell if it's another iPhone kang by the company that seems to kang at will or if it could be worth at least a few minutes of your time as an app that attempts to go outside the box. When you load it up for the first time, you will notice that it becomes a page of apps similar to what you get on an iOS device. But then you realize that it does have a home screen, only that home screen is a single infinitely scrolling vertical page that can be filled with favorite apps, widgets, etc. From there, you have an app drawer that also has a dock for you to use to create shortcuts to folders of apps. So no, it's not a dock like you would see on LP or ADW, but is really just a folder shortcut for better organization. Yeah it is odd. There are free and paid versions - I suggest you at least give the free one a quick spin to see if this is something that moistens your palate.

Market Link: FREE | Paid Via: TechCrunch

Google Did Not Just Buy Motorola For Patents, It Was Also For Their "Amazing Products"

Dan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:00:56 +0000

When Google purchased Motorola for the astonishing price of $12.5 billion, the sole reason was for some 17,000 patents. Bloggers and press personalities all across the globe speculated on whether or not Motorola's position as an OEM had anything to do with the acquisition. It turns out that these speculations were right. Google's Eric Schmidt stated that it was done for "more than just patents" and that "the Motorola team has some amazing products". I couldn't agree more with Mr. Schmidt, Motorola does make some incredible products. However, they are miles behind the competition with their software, mainly the user interface formally known as Blur. In my opinion, once you strip Blur from a Motorola device you are now in possession of a godly phone. Andy Rubin previously stated that the Nexus line will continue to be a competition between Motorola and other companies, but come on, with Google's interest in Motorola's hardware who can compete with them? Would a Motorola Nexus device be one of your dream phones? Feel free to sound off in the comments and let the speculation continue. Via: Bloomberg

Buying a New Verizon Smartphone? Trade In Your Current Phone and Receive $100 Gift Card (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:15:15 +0000

Verizon introduced a new trade-in program over the last week or so that will help you land $100 gift cards for trading in old phones and then purchasing new ones. The deal varies depending on your status (non-customer, adding a line, etc.), but no matter what, should give you an extra $100 to put towards a new phone like say, the DROID Bionic. After reading some fine print, it looks like the deal could run through November 15 which would cover rumored device like the HTC Vigor and DROID Prime as well. Understand though, that if you were to buy something like say the Charge or Bionic, you will still have to pay $299 up front, but will then receive a giftcard afterwards in the mail to offset it by $100. Still, not a bad option. The site for this promo mentions that it is an online exclusive, but I've heard that this may also be available in stores. Looking for confirmation on that. Update: Here are the in-store details from one of our sources:

In the store it works for customers upgrading from a basic phone (one not requiring data packages) to a smart phone (requires minimum $30). When you upgrade, you are sent a promo code for the VZW trade in site. Once entered, they send you a box to send in your basic phone, and then when they receive it they send you a $100 gift card. Currently the stores are only doing the upgrade promotion and not the new activations to VZW like they are doing online. Some customers are even eligible to upgrade early if they go to a smartphone.

More on the $100 gift card promo. Cheers Jeff and ac66!

DROID Bionic Shipments Arrive in Stores, Launch Kits With Live Demo Units Too

Kellen — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:37:51 +0000

Verizon is taking their sweet time announcing the DROID Bionic as they do with just about every phone these days, but we now know that devices have started to make appearances in more than a few stores. With the phone set for September 8, whether they ever make it official or not, our sources (and the picture above) indicate that demo units, all marketing materials, and even first shipments have arrived. As you can tell, Motorola and Big Red have spared no expense to help feed the hype machine on this one. And with demos hitting stores, you may be able to get some hands-on time with one yourself this weekend. Maybe. Cheers epyonzerox and ___!

Verizon and NFL Team Up Again, Free NFL Mobile Premium Access to 4G LTE Customers

Kellen — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:03:00 +0000

Verizon locked in another deal with the NFL this season to bring you exclusive content through their NFL Mobile app. This time around though, they are giving 4G LTE customers free premium access for the entire season, something 3G customers have to pay $10 a month for. Premium access includes live streaming of Sunday Night Football games, Monday Night Football games, and even NFL Network exclusive Thursday night games. NFL Redzone which gives you quick looks at any game with a scoring opportunity is a part of the Premium package as well. And yes, that is a picture of the DROID Bionic. No, they have not announced it yet. More info here. Press release below.

NFL MOBILE IS BACK TO FOOTBALL NOW WITH MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Verizon Has the Only Mobile App with Live NFL Games on Thursday, Sunday and now Monday Nights, NFL RedZone on Sunday Afternoons and Live NFL Network
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – The NFL and Verizon are bringing fans back to football no matter where they are with more live games, live NFL Network, news and information with NFL Mobile only from Verizon, powered by the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. New this year, NFL Mobile will offer live streaming of ESPN’s Monday Night Football (MNF) package starting on Monday, Sept. 12 with the kickoff double header featuring the New England Patriots visiting the Miami Dolphins followed by the Oakland Raiders visiting the Denver Broncos. The 17 MNF games are in addition to the live stream of NBC’s 18-game Sunday Night Football package, NFL Network’s eight-game Thursday Night Football slate and NFL RedZone, which delivers every touchdown from every game on Sunday afternoons. NFL Mobile delivers coverage of every NFL regular season game, and fans can also use NFL Mobile to keep up with the action by watching NFL Network 24/7 throughout the entire season. All customers who download NFL Mobile have access to:

·        The latest news, information, schedules and scores from around the league;

·        Extensive video on demand of game day and other exciting team action;

·        New and improved Fantasy Football Tracker with deep links to the NFL.com Fantasy Football game;

·        On demand access to NFL Films content;

·        The ability to set your favorite team and receive daily text alerts with NFL highlights when new content is available;

·        Live audio broadcasts of all regular and postseason games, including Super Bowl, with a number of games also available in Spanish;

·        A redesigned scores page with enhanced content to keep you on top of all the action pre, post and during the game.

Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone customers have access to NFL Mobile premium, including all video, for the entire season. Customers with 3G smartphones who want even more NFL video can subscribe to Verizon Video for $10/month. Premium video includes:

·        Live streaming video of NBC’s Sunday Night Football and ESPN’s Monday Night Football all season and eight NFL Network Thursday Night Football games;

·        Live streaming video of NFL Network, the only network devoted to football 24/7; and

·        NFL RedZone with live look-ins featuring every touchdown from every game on Sunday afternoons.

NFL Mobile is available on many smartphones from Verizon Wireless, including DROID 3 and DROID PRO by Motorola. All Verizon Wireless smartphones require a data package. Data usage applies to the download and use of NFL Mobile. Verizon Wireless is the official wireless service sponsor of the NFL. To download NFL Mobile, visit the Verizon channel in Android^™ Market or call “**NFL”. For more information about NFL Mobile and a list of compatible phones, visit www.verizonwireless.com/nfl. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 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.

4G LTE Devices Could See Significant Price Drop in Late 2012

Kellen — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:20:46 +0000

According to a new report, the cost to end users of 4G LTE devices could drop significantly by the second half of 2012. A number of chip manufacturers are said to be ramping up production from now through the early parts of next year which could lead to prices well under what we have seen thus far from companies like Verizon. As you know, Big Red's 4G LTE phones all debuted well above the standard $199 subsidized contrat price - some of them even as high as $299 (DROID Charge). We would certainly welcome in a price drop, even if the 2nd half of 2012 is still a ways off. With that said, the Bionic is still going to be $299. Bleh. Via: Digitimes, BGR

Muffin Knight Released on Android, Unicorns That Poo Rainbows, Anyone?

Kellen — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:38:54 +0000

Wow. That's all I have to say after receiving info on this new game called Muffin Knight from the developers behind another gaming hit you may have heard of, Guerilla Bob. It's a platformer (similar to Blookid) that includes fantastic graphics, 15 cudly characters (including a unicorn that poos rainbows), "epic" boss battles, and cross platform multi-player, so that you and your lonely iPhone friend can play together. My explanation for how ridiculously enjoyable this sounds, will not do it justice. Trailer below. Market Link ($2.99) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGqTo61tE4I[/youtube]

DROID Bionic Apparently Rooted Already.

Kellen — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:04:51 +0000

As most of us expected, the root method that was discovered to work on the DROID3 and then just about every Motorola device know to man, works on the DROID Bionic. This doesn't mean that the bootloader will be unlocked, but it at least gives us something positive on the freedom front. So yeah, not much else to say except that if you see an update pop up on your phone just after picking it up on Thursday, that I would recommend you not install it before rooting. Not that we have knowledge of Motorola preparing an update to break this root method, but you just never know. Via: MyDroidWorld Cheers Jigga_Z and everyone else!

HTC Rhyme is the ADR6330 and Headed to Verizon, XOOM LTE Lands on MAP List at $499

Kellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:09:51 +0000

A new MAP (minimum advertised price) list popped into our inbox this afternoon featuring a couple of semi-new devices that are worth mentioning. The first is the HTC Rhyme which we first outed back in early August as the ADR6330. We know almost nothing about this device other than the fact that the model number fits somewhere between the HTC Merge (ADR6325) and DROID Incredible 2 (ADR6350). So if we go off of those previous two devices (and $199 price), I would say it's a mid-range Android device that could end up being global. ~~We heard rumors a few months back about a new HTC slider (yep, keyboard) that had global capabilities - maybe this is it~~. Or it could also be the oddly colored green HTC Bliss. Oh, and the name itself certainly hints at it having Beats by Dre goodies built in. Would certainly love to see a pair of headphones included. The second thing we wanted to point out is the listing of the XOOM LTE for what appears to be a $499 2-year contract price. If we are reading that list correctly, then it would suggest that this new 4G LTE XOOM could launch around next Thursday with the DROID Bionic. And why is that significant? Well, because all of the early adopters of the 3G XOOM are not going to have 4G in their device by then. Yikes. Cheers ___ and ___!

Gameloft Offering Free Games All Weekend Long To Celebrate Labor Day

Tim — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:48:45 +0000

Everyone just got a new reason to celebrate the 3-day weekend. Gameloft, has announced that they will have a special giveaway of some of their more popular and "iconic" titles over the weekend (today through Sept. 5th). Getting the free games is super easy too - all you need to do is:

Follow Gameloft on Twitter Or "Like" Gameloft on Facebook Keep an eye on either of those for the specific download links. Be fast. Downloads are only available for two hours.

You can never go wrong with free games, and they will also be listing all their Android titles for just $0.99, so follow this link, and go splurge! And hey, if you're going to be following Gameloft on Twitter, then make sure to follow Droid Life. Note: The first game giveaway just launched (4PM to 6PM pacific standard time), and it is none other than N.O.V.A. HD. Via: Gameloft

DROID Incredible Gingerbread Update Returns with New Build 4.06.605.3

Kellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:18:23 +0000

Whatever the bug was that the Verizon testing team found for the original Incredible and its Gingerbread update was significant enough that they decided to pull it. That bug though, must have already been fixed as the support documents for 2.3 are back and showing build 4.06.605.3 rather than .2. We received an anonymous tip this morning suggesting that the update would actually be available today, but questioned that after noticing that VZW had taken down the 2.3 update page. Well, now that these documents are back with an updated build number, we wouldn't be surprised if the update did indeed start tonight. Talk about working fast, right? They just announced yesterday that the update would be available in September. HTC wasn't messing around. Let us know if you get it!

New Samsung Verizon Device Hinted at by Samsung Support?

Kellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:54:46 +0000

We are totally going hypebeast on this post, there is no getting around that, so take it as that and nothing more. But what we have above is a quick Twitter conversation between one of our buddies and a Samsung support rep. Our friend @ClumsyNinja21 has been asking over and over again why Verizon was skipped in the Galaxy S II launch and if there would be something to make up for it in the near future. Well, after not hearing much of a response for a solid day, he did get one this afternoon after dropping the idea of picking up the DROID Bionic instead of waiting and hoping that Samsung eventually delivers something. The support rep was pretty clear in that he thought it would be worth waiting, but that he doesn't have a date. Wait, date for what? I didn't think Verizon had plans for anything beyond the Bionic? Anyone remember an announcement of any kind on the Samsung/Big Red front? (Anyone else grinning?) Could he be referring to the Stratosphere? I certainly wouldn't recommend that anyone skip the Bionic for a single-core slideout 4G LTE device that is nothing more than an Epic 4G. Could he be referring to the rumored DROID Prime? If so, that could be worth waiting for - assuming all of the rumored everything ends up coming true. Again, take it for what it's worth...could be nothing. Just wanted to share. *Side note - And folks, let's return to being civil with each other. Remember, we all love Android because it gives us choices. Just because someone wants to choose this device over that device does not make them wrong. Let people make their own decisions, whether you believe those are wrong or not. It's all about happy times in the land of the green robot.

Nielsen: Android Commands 40% Of US Smartphone Market, Future Owners Plan to Adopt Green

Tim — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:20:18 +0000

In the latest Nielsen Media Research report Google's Android operating system gained 1 percent and increased it's U.S. smartphone market share to 40 percent. On the heels of Android was Apple's iOS which remained at a flat 28 percent. Coming in third was RIM's Blackberry operating system which continues it's fall, lowering to 19 percent of the market. Nielsen also reported that 40 percent of mobile phone users between May and July of this year owned smartphones, and for the first time, our green friend topped iOS in which smartphone platform users intend to buy next. A look at plans for future adoption: Our friends over on the iOS side of things still have a commanding second place hold, but in the past two reports filed by Nielson (last was filed end of Q2 2011), it has not moved from that spot by even a single percentage. This graph below (from last month), shows a very nice breakdown of not only where the operating system share was, but also device manufacturers.

With Android's continued growth, and 550K+ activations a day, when can we expect Android to hold 50% of the market? Or how about 75%? With Apple's approaching release of the i*hone 5, could we see a slight dip in these numbers? Via: Nielsen

Dan also contributed to this post.

Download: Motorola DROID Bionic User Guide

Kellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:20:14 +0000

Price. Specs. Release date. Pictures. More pictures. Even more pictures. Anything else you could possibly need to know about this phone? Just in case, the user guide is below. Download: bionic_manual.pdf Weeeee.

Android Back in Space - Nexus S Gets Down With Some Spheres

Kellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:40:55 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REsEgrhmMjc[/youtube]

To break up talk from that other phone that seems to be popping up so often, we wanted to share this latest video from the Android team that features the Nexus S back in space. Pretty cool to see some of the smartest people on the face of the Earth talk about how they chose Android because it's easy to program for and easier to customize to their liking. Anyone ever envision that an Android-powered device would be helping control spheres and robots from space so that humans can sit back home in safety from the evil things that are surely to be seen in Apollo 18? Wait...I just wait fictional on fact. Apologies. Via: Google Mobile

DroidDoes.com Confirms Bionic $589.99 Full Retail Price Through Terms and Conditions

Kellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:21:34 +0000

Our sources told us back on August 8 that the DROID Bionic would be $589.99 at full retail, a price that has now seemingly been confirmed by the DroidDoes.com augmented reality scavenger hunt terms and conditions page. Thanks to a keen-eyed tipster over at Phandroid who dug through and found the device's average retail value, we can now double cross price off the list. So we are looking at $299 on 2-year contract and $589 at full retail. Definitely not a cheap phone. And can someone explain to me why the Galaxy S II, which is arguably the best phone on the planet, is 4G and only $199 at every other carrier? You can't tell me that an LTE chip is worth an extra 100 bones, can you? Oh, a new Facebook Bionic page has also appeared today.

Via: Phandroid, DroidDoes Cheers thatguy188!

Download: Bionic ARena Scavenger App for Original DROID

Kellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:40:44 +0000

As many of you have pointed out, the Bionic ARena scavenger hunt app will not appear for you to download on the original DROID. While we could go off for quite some time on how unfortunate that is, we'll attempt to move on and have instead given you the .apk file to sideload onto your device. So you know, this runs pretty rough on the OG and is probably the reason why they won't make it available in the market to owners of it. You'll get some force closes, but you can also get it to work if you are patient with it. It may not be pretty, but it should give you a chance to compete to win a new phone. After all, you have been waiting for 2 years - you deserve something for that. Download: com.mf.DroidBionicARena-1.apk To install - download the file from above to your phone, tap on it when it finishes and install.

How to: Return DROID2 Back to Stock 2.2 to Receive Gingerbread Update

Kellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:51:08 +0000

We noticed that more than a few of you are having issues receiving the DROID2 Gingerbread update due to the fact that you are rooted, have removed bloatware, etc. and wanted to walk you through the flashing of an SBF file - basically the only way you can return to stock to get official 2.3.3. We should warn you though, that SBF files wipe your device clean and are also pretty dangerous. This is one of the few ways that you can actually brick a Motorola phone, so be careful. Download: VRZ_A955_2.3.20.zip Instructions:

*Make sure your battery is fully charged.

1. Download and install Motorola USB drivers that fit your Windows system. [Download] 2. Download and install RSD Lite 4.8. [Download] 3. Download the Droid2 SBF file from above to your PC. 4. Unzip that file to somewhere other than your desktop. 5. Open RSD Lite, tap the “…” button, find the 2.3.20 SBF file that you just unzipped and select it. 6. Plug your phone into your computer and turn it off. 7. Boot into bootloader by holding the Up Arrow and then holding Power until the screen flashes.

Should say "Battery OK - OK to Program - Transfer Mode: USB"

8. Click the start button and allow your phone to flash 2.2 (2.3.20 Blur). 9. When your phone gets to 100% and reboots, you are all done. 10. If your phone reboots and has a bunch of Force Closes, you need to factory reset. 11. Boot your phone into recovery using ADB and command "adb reboot recovery." 12. Run a factory reset/wipe data. Reboot your phone and accept the update. Hope that helps those of you that are stuck. It has been a while since we did an SBF flashing walk-through. For additional help, feel free to check out this similar post for the DROIDX that was done almost a year ago. You will find a lot of helpful RSD Lite tips in case you do run into issues.

Updated DROID Bionic Teaser Clearly States September 8

Kellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:21:02 +0000

Late last night, this video from one of our readers popped into our inbox, featuring that same DROID Bionic teaser that we received last week, only it had a slight change at the end. Apparently airing during the George Lopez Show, instead of saying "SEPTEMBER" in the last second, this spot clearly states "09.08.11" which we can all assume is the official launch. After all, we have seen this date 3 or 4 times now, including two from us yesterday. So you know, the DroidDoes.com entry codes have all been entered (finally) which gives you all of the info you could need to join in the latest DROID scavenger hunt. It's all stuff we gave you yesterday, so prepare yourselves as the contest starts in 60 hours. And if you were wondering what that countdown was all about, we are pretty sure it was simply going to self-unlock in case one of the tech blogs decided not to participate (something that almost happened). As you can see by going to the site, the countdown is now gone. Why the delay on the announcement, Big Red? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh340a-TH4I[/youtube] Cheers edmond!

How to: Root the DROID2, DROIDX2, DROIDX, and DROID3 Running Gingerbread

Kellen — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:50:07 +0000

Actually, this method should root just about any Motorola phone running Gingerbread. So not only will it work on the DROID3, DROID2, DROIDX2, and DROIDX, but it should also work on the DROID Pro and D2 Global when they receive an update - hopefully the DROID Bionic too. We were inspired to write this for the simple fact that the D2 received Gingerbread last night finally, and within 5 minutes I was rooted. Thanks to Framework43 and psouza4 for putting this together. It couldn't be any simpler than this method right here. Download: MotorolaOneClickRoot.zip Instructions: 1. Make sure you have Motorola drivers installed - [Download Drivers] 2. Download the MotorolaOneClickRoot.zip file from above and unzip it to your Windows PC. 3. On your phone go into Settings>Applications>Development and check the box for USB Debugging. 4. Plug phone into your computer and select “Charge Only” mode. 5. Navigate to MotorolaOneClickRoot folder and run MotorolaOneClickRoot.exe. 6. Follow the instructions in the command window. 7. Your phone will complete 3 steps, rebooting along the way. When it finishes, you will be rooted. Full support can be found at this thread in case you run into issues.

DROID2 Gingerbread Update Available Now

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:33:00 +0000

The Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) update for the DROID2 is available right now to everyone. You can pull the update by simply going into Settings>About phone>System updates. Get on it! Gallery: [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Oh, and the soak test for the D2 Global also starts tonight. Cheers S!

Additional Confirmation that the DROID Bionic will be Here September 8 (Updated: More Info)

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:35:36 +0000

Just in case you need additional confirmation that the DROID Bionic is headed to stores on September 8 without a direct fill (which likely means no pre-order), we have it for you. Also, another look at official specs including talk time which is listed as up to 10.8 hours. And don't forget to check out the wallpapers from the device that were just posted. Update: We have more goodies, like Gtalk with video over 3G, 4G and WiFi along with accessories...

How does a 2880mAh extended battery sound?

Cheers ___!

DROID Bionic Wallpapers Pulled From System Dump, Bundled As Market App

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:20:51 +0000

With the DROID Bionic now confirmed to be headed to stores on September 8, we will surely start to see bits and pieces of its software leak like we have tonight. Our buddy @P3droid got a hold of the system dump and dug through it to find all of the new wallpapers that were included. Once he found them, he packaged them up into a nifty wallpaper app and dropped in on the market for you to enjoy. I must say, whoever designed the wallpapers for this phone did a fantastic job. Market Link Via: MyDroidWorld Cheers Tom!

Verizon Equipment Guide Says DROID Bionic Will Launch in All Channels September 8

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:22:29 +0000

There you have it. Verizon's internal Equipment Guide has been updated to show that they expect an "all channel" launch for the DROID Bionic to go off September 8. There isn't a mention of a direct fill option, so that means there might not be an opportunity to grab one early (pre-order) via the web or through a sales line like we saw with the DROID3. One week to go, folks. *Note - The weight is listed at 5.60oz. It's slightly lighter than the D3 at 5.90oz, but that phone also has a keyboard. Thunderbolt is 6.23oz, Charge is 5.04oz, and the DROIDX2 is 5.47oz. So it's not a massive tank, but it's definitely no where near the feather weight of the Galaxy SII. All the specs and details you could ask for after the break.

And here are some accessories that have already arrived in stores:

Cheers ___ and Raj!

New HTC Sensation Will Have Beats Integration, HD Screen and a Bigger Battery - Sounds Similar to the Vigor [from AL]

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:27:18 +0000

A new HTC Sensation outed by the folks at CNET has almost identical specs to those that we expect to see in the Vigor here in the states on Verizon. While we clearly trust our source that provided us with these detailed specs, this is a pretty solid second confirmation that they were spot on and that the HTC Vigor (first pictures of it) will most definitely be a beast. We were told that it will sport a 4.3" HD screen, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and Beats by Dre integration - all matching this leak of the new Sensation. Even better though, is the fact that this phone along with another from HTC, will both include some form of Beats Audio headphones or earbuds. The new Sensation is getting earbuds, while some are also set to include full ear covering Beats Solo headphones. No telling yet what the Vigor will come equipped with, but the earbuds seem more likely knowing that this very similar device is as well. More on the new Sensation over at Android Life.

DROID3 Update Pulled from Moto Servers, Adds GTalk with Video and Other Bug Fixes

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:30:33 +0000

An update has been pulled from Motorola's servers for the DROID3 that appears to give it Google Talk with Video along with a new radio that will more than likely improve its finicky battery life. We are pretty sure that this is the test update that has been floating around to a number of D3s, but have no idea if this is the build that will actually get approved for mass consumption. Scottml is the XDA member that made this discovery and has listed out some changes:

- BP upgrade for the Radio - Talk2 for Video - Boot.img patch - Recovery.img patch - Various patches to alot of system files - And some stupid bloatware patches as well.

And to answer the million dollar question that is running through all of your heads right now, "Yes, this version can still be rooted." Download: Blur_Version.5.5.959.XT862.Verizon.en.US.zip Simple instructions: Download the file from above and drop it on your SD card. Reboot your phone into recovery using "adb reboot recovery" and then choose to install zip via sd card. It is recommended that your phone is unrooted and 100% back to stock before attempting this. *Warning - Like I said above, there is no guarantee that this is the next official build that will be released to everyone. So if you update, know that there is a chance that you will be stuck on this version unless an SBF comes out or another update path. You can re-root afterwards using this file. Via: XDA Cheers Ryan!

HTC: Gingerbread Headed to Both Incredible and Thunderbolt in September

Tim — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:33:37 +0000

Looks like the wait is almost over for our dear HTC Thunderbolt and DROID Incredible owners. We have been listening to readers rant about HTC's lack of Gingerbread support for these devices for quite some time, but it looks like all your dreams are coming true next month. HTC is now tweeting that Gingerbread will begin rolling out to these devices in September, and as always, they are thanking us for our ~~support~~ patience. Everyone keep on your toes, we are almost there. Still no mention as to why the Incredible update was pulled after rolling out to a test group. Via: Twitter, Facebook Cheers black stag, Joseph and Brent!

SportsCaster Released to Help Feed Your Sports and Twitter Addictions

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:18:18 +0000

If you had been looking for a way to follow the top sports analysts, players and fans that are having discussions via Twitter during a particular NFL or NCAA football game, then SportsCaster is the app for you. Made by the same folks who created TweetCaster, this app gives fans a "personalized, real-time source of sports commentary." So instead of having to sift through your Twitter feed to find relevant conversations between like-minded fans and personalities, you can find it all aggregated in one app. I'm liking this idea. App currently supports NFL and NCAA football. Basketball, hockey, and baseball to come. Market Link (Free) Cheers Picolas!

Google Voice Update Fixes Bugs, Makes Reference to Making Calls Without Data (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:05:47 +0000

So Google Voice received a pretty solid bug fixing update (UI enhancements too) this morning that improves notifications, eliminates that obnoxious need to press play twice in voicemails, and now warns you when you have no data connectivity. It also mentions something about making calls without a data connection, but as far as we know, GV doesn't make calls over data or does it? We are officially confused. Text messages are sent through data which is why they are not counted against your text plan, but phone calls are handled differently, aren't they? Hopefully this gets explained in a blog post some time today. Reader Christiaan offers a solid explanation of this "no data" calling:

I'm pretty sure what they mean is that if you've called a phone number through Google Voice before, then your phone will remember what GV number to call to connect to. The way it's worked in the past is that every time you call a number through GV, your phone sends a data request to Google telling them the number you want to call, and Google sends back a number for your phone to actually call (a patch number). Once your phone calls that patch number, Google's servers then connect your through them to the actual number you want to call. This new update will remember what the patch number is for each real number, so you won't have to have data for previously called numbers.

Update: The folks over at Android Police discovered that this version has basically been built for Honeycomb. It may not say that it has full support in the market listing, nor can you load it directly from the market, but once you side load it onto a tablet you will see what we mean. Tablet UI and a sweet new widget included.

(Click images for larger versions)

Market Link | APK for sideloading to tablets Cheers 0mie and Josh!

XOOMs with 4G LTE Upgrade Starting to Pop Up, Android 3.2.2 Pre-loaded

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:26:58 +0000

A select group of Verizon, government and business accounts holders were invited to finally upgrade their Motorola XOOMs to 4G LTE. Those initial members that sent off devices immediately, are now receiving them back (nice 5 day turn-around). Android 3.2.2 comes installed along with the most important part, the ability to connect to Verizon's 4G LTE network. Check out that lower left corner in the shot above - sweetness to our eyes. Shouldn't be long now before we all get the chance to upgrade. Via: XDA Cheers Jimmy!

This is What the Unlocked DROID Bionic DroidDoes.com Site Will Look Like (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:58:58 +0000

The DROID Bionic teaser site at DroidDoes.com went up this morning, asking that four tech sites enter in secret codes to unlock something grand. Well, we discovered that part of the plan could include a new augmented reality scavenger hunt, but still were not sure if the unlocking of the site would reveal this. Thanks to a tipster, we now know that's exactly what it will do. After each site unlocks their particular section, a new piece of the hunt will be revealed. There will also be a video at some point, but apparently that either hasn't been uploaded yet or is not ready to show itself. Should have titled this, "Spoiler alert!" Update: Here is the video...(newer version of the video) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7daMHUJqPGA[/youtube] Cheers Tom!

Download: GPA17 (Android 2.3.5) For The Motorola "OG" DROID By Peter Alfonso

Tim — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:13:19 +0000

We are no strangers to the work of Peter Alfonso, here at Droid Life. Pete has been pumping out ROMs since the beginning, and he just keeps on delivering for the masses. His newest release is GPA17, which is Android 2.3.5 for the Motorola DROID. Pete has added in a few noticeable features of course. You have to love the fact that this device is still getting love, but we should point out that this may be his last update for a while since he is headed back to school.

*Rooted OG users only!

Added features:

180 degree rotation
Overclockable kernel
CPU toolkit (can be removed by deleting "Toolkit.apk")
FLAC audio support
Ad-hoc network support
Facebook sync
Reboot option
Modified widget picker
Headset/headphone icon in statusbar
Latest Google apps
Busybox
Bug fixes/code improvement from CyanogenMod

Download GPA17 Download the file onto your SD card, then flash using ClockworkMod Recovery. Don't forget to make a backup, since we recommend a full wipe of your device before flashing. If you have any questions or run into any problems, let us know. For anymore info, visit Pete's website. Cheers Nick and Chris!

Droid Bionic Scavenger Hunt Will Use Augmented Reality in New App, Confirms September 8?

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:11:03 +0000

One of our readers may have just figured out exactly what @DroidLanding has planned for us with the DROID Bionic and its scavenger hunt. Participants will be asked to download an app called Droid Bionic ARena with the "AR" standing for augmented reality. That's right, this scavenger hunt require you to win entires using augmented reality in your area. It doesn't appear as if you will actually be hunting Bionics, but will instead be hunting for other items that will enter you in to win a Bionic. According to this app, the hunt will start on 9/4 and last through 9/7 which I would say basically confirms that this phone will be out on September 8. Prizes include: DROID Bionic (of course), Motorola XOOM, Video-streaming Quadcopter, Intel Laptop, and a 40" LED TV. Market Link A look at the AR:

Description:

Update: One of our readers found these embedded in the Bionic landing page...

Cheers Bobby!

U.S. Files Complaint to Block AT&T's Acquisition of T-Mobile (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:48:55 +0000

The U.S. government is not a fan of AT&T's attempt to snatch up smaller rival T-Mobile and has filed an antitrust complaint to try and block it from happening. Here is a quote included in the filing:

“AT&T’s elimination of T-Mobile as an independent, low- priced rival would remove a significant competitive force from the market,” the U.S. said.

I'm actually a little shocked at this news. While a number of issues have been brought fourth over the last few weeks that did not favor AT&T, I was under the impression that most analysts predicted that this acquisition would still happen. And this doesn't necessarily mean that it won't happen, it just means it could be a lot trickier. Update: AT&T has released a statement, and boy do they not sound pleased:

We are surprised and disappointed by today’s action, particularly since we have met repeatedly with the Department of Justice and there was no indication from the DOJ that this action was being contemplated. We plan to ask for an expedited hearing so the enormous benefits of this merger can be fully reviewed. The DOJ has the burden of proving alleged anti-competitive affects and we intend to vigorously contest this matter in court. At the end of the day, we believe facts will guide any final decision and the facts are clear. This merger will:

Help solve our nation’s spectrum exhaust situation and improve wireless service for millions.

Allow AT&T to expand 4G LTE mobile broadband to another 55 million Americans, or 97% of the population;

Result in billions of additional investment and tens of thousands of jobs, at a time when our nation needs them most.

We remain confident that this merger is in the best interest of consumers and our country, and the facts will prevail in court.

Update 2: And Sprint has now released a statement...

The DOJ today delivered a decisive victory for consumers, competition and our country. By filing suit to block AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile, the DOJ has put consumers’ interests first. Sprint applauds the DOJ for conducting a careful and thorough review and for reaching a just decision – one which will ensure that consumers continue to reap the benefits of a competitive U.S. wireless industry. Contrary to AT&T’s assertions, today’s action will preserve American jobs, strengthen the American economy, and encourage innovation.

And this is most definitely developing... Via: Bloomberg

DroidDoes.com Bionic Page Goes Live, @DroidLanding Prepares Itself for New Hunt

Kellen — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:23:18 +0000

The DroidDoes.com micro-site for all things DROID has been updated as of late last night with a Bionic page that asks for 4 codes to be entered from 4 different tech blogs. There is also a countdown that points to tomorrow at 12PM. We are not sure if that means the phone will be announced or if a new @DroidLanding scavenger hunt will begin. Yep, that Twitter account has also gone live as of just a few minutes ago. And no, we were not included in this one, but it's all good. Someone was kind enough to send us that Bionic teaser video, remember? Update: We've posted the scavenger hunt details here. Stay tuned... Cheers Jeff, Nick and everyone who sent this in!

Watch the Samsung Galaxy S II Event Live (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:56:10 +0000

There won't be any Verizon goodness to view at this Samsung Galaxy S II U.S. launch event, but we can still all join in the party and cheer on Android in general. And who knows, we could see something bigger on Big Red in just a few weeks if any of the rumors of the past few days are to be believed. *Live stream is over. Update: They will start in 5 minutes. Our boy Dan is on the scene. Update 2: A press release introducing all three devices can be found here. Update 3: Don't forget to check out our review of the unlocked Galaxy S II here. Update 4: Dan is on his way to get some hands on time. Continued coverage over at Android Life.

Nexus Prime GT-I9250 Support Page Found on Samsung Site

Kellen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:31:01 +0000

What you have in front of you, is a support page for the Samsung GT-I9250 which has been rumored for weeks to be the Nexus Prime. Confused after reading that? Oh, because the rumored "DROID Prime" is listed all over the place now as being SCH-i515? Yeah, this isn't going to be easy to explain, but we'll try. Our opinion still basically reflects what we said throughout a variety of posts yesterday. The device that is headed to Verizon may not actually be a Nexus, but still could be the first stock Android 4.0 device on the planet. Just like Verizon did with the XOOM (and 3.0) and original DROID (and 2.0), they could easily release this device and not make it a Nexus which is why you are seeing the Big Red-esque SCH-i515 model number. This GT-I9250, which matches up much more closely to say the Nexus S as far as model number goes than the Verizon version, is more than likely the next Nexus. That make sense? Now, that's all speculation on my part, but the theory at least matches up to history. The good news is, that even if Verizon releases a non-Nexus version, there is a chance it could be completely unlocked, just like the XOOM was/is. Thoughts? Via: AndroidGuys

Tumblr Receives a Much Needed Android Overhaul - New UI, Multi-Blog Support and More

Kellen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:47:36 +0000

Any Tumblr users in the building? As a user of the service, I'm actually excited to see that their team has released a major update to version 2.0. The previous version was not the most fluid of apps and also had a variety of annoying bugs that seemed to get ignored. In this latest build, users will enjoy a redesigned UI along with the ability to manage multiple blogs, messages and an address book all without leaving the app.

New interface: A total redesign centered around Android’s hardware and software.
Manage multiple blogs: It’s now a simple swipe to access your different blogs and manage your drafts, queue and followers on-the-go.
Create a post: We’ve highlighted posting to Tumblr so you can share text, images, links, chats, quotes and videos whenever you want.
Messages: View and reply to messages for each of your blogs.
Address book: Find people to follow from your phone’s address book.
New users: Sign up right from the app.
Bonus: For quick sharing, you can post anything from your home screen via the Tumblr widget.

Know of any Tumblr accounts we should add to our list of daily reads? Market Link Via: Tumblr, Android and Me

Samsung DROID Prime Logo [Unofficial]

Kellen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:38:56 +0000

When the Samsung Nexus Prime started to receive a lot of coverage around these parts, one of our readers decided to create an awesome logo that could be used during future stories. Since that phone is now being rumored as the DROID Prime, he went back to the drawing board and created this little black and red Optimus for your viewing pleasure. We still are not ready to jump on the idea that this SCH-i515 Samsung device will be DROID branded, but are definitely under the impression that it will still make its way to Verizon in the very near future in some form. Especially since it could be the first device to run Ice Cream Sandwich. Rumors suggest an October release; we would gladly accept that, however, November is a much more likely time frame. Cheers again Nate!

Tuesday Poll: Interested in DROID Bionic Webtop Accessories?

Kellen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:57:06 +0000

When the Atrix 4G was introduced at CES in January, one of the major selling points was its built-in webtop docking capabilities. The idea that your phone could essentially turn into and power a laptop, was pretty intriguing. The pricing on the other hand, not so much. With the release of the DROID Bionic, Motorola has introduced similar webtop accessories but, also has plans to throw in a new "Webtop Adapter" that is targeted at customers who want to experience webtop on the cheap. We are just wondering if anyone is interested in this type of accessory at all? Current signs point to the full LapDock as being priced at $299 with the HD Station and Adapter falling in somewhere below that. You definitely have options - are you looking to jump on any? [poll id="100"]

Firefox for Tablets Gets a Brief Preview

Kellen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:10:06 +0000

I. Want. This. Now. Yes Firefox, you have impressed me enough in a single preview post of your tablet-specific browser that I feel like I can no longer live without it and I don't even have it yet. In a blog post by one of Firefox Mobile's developers, we get a look at the UI decisions that have been made for their tablet browser, along with some of the goodies that have carried over from the phone version. The Awesomebar is included, a new tablet theme, and top/side tabs depending on which way you are holding your tablet. This looks impressive. And at this point, anything is better than the stock, crashmaster Honeycomb browser, right? Landscape and Portrait Modes:

Awesomebar:

Just guessing, but would doubt that this will have Flash support. Since the phone version doesn't, I cannot imagine that they would all of a sudden see the light and take their tablet version into the light. Other than Flash, anyone else as excited to try this out as I am? Via: Ian Barlow, Android Central

Robotek - A Game About The Machine's Inevitable World Takeover

Tim — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:45:03 +0000

We knew it was going to happen. We would create machines too smart for our own good. They have realized the only way to protect us, is to destroy us. Sound familiar? Maybe that is what causes the initial attraction to the game. But then you see the price tag. Free? Must be riddled with advertisements. Wait, no ads? This seems too good to be true. Well believe it, folks. A game that has superb graphics, great gameplay, and even a multi-player function. When you first boot up the game, it takes you through a great tutorial, so as not to leave you in the dust as far as the point of the game, and controls. Basically, it's a robot battle arena, and you spin a wheel to determine what type of moves you will make against your opponent. Once you get the hang of it, it is actually quite addictive. But beware - the game is free, but is supported by in app purchases. No, you do not need to purchase anything to beat the game. I played for 2 days and wasn't even hassled once to purchase anything. You can't blame developers for trying to pay the bills. But again, they are non intrusive, and you might not even notice them at all. Download it, and give it a go! Market Link (free) [gallery] Cheers yopete525!

Changelog for DROID2 Global Gingerbread Update has Returned

Kellen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:09:35 +0000

The Gingerbread update for the DROID2 Global has finally returned after a 3 month bug fixing hiatus. We reported over the weekend that a soak test for the update was set to begin some time in early September and are now seeing the changelog for it reappear. Nothing has changed at least on paper, but you can bet that all of the fixes that were included in the latest DROIDX update were patched into this. So that puts 2.3 on the DX, D2 (soak test began last night), D2 Global, DX2, and DROID3. All we have left now from Motorola is the Pro. Oh, no word on the Incredible update at this time - it's still delayed to our knowledge. Blur version after the update is 4.5.607.

(Click images for full versions)

More info.

Madden 2012 Also Available on Android Today

Kellen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:21:38 +0000

Anyone headed to a store this morning to pick up Madden 2012? Or have some of you already gone 2-3 hours deep into your first franchise season? Or did some of you have to work today? (I say that because this is like a holiday for gamers) If for whatever reason you had to and are not able to plant yourself firmly on a couch, you may want to grab the Android version of the game that was also released and dive into a season from your desk. It will run you almost $8, but that could be well worth the time spent discovering who will be this year's unstoppable force. Market Link

Via: Phandroid

DROID Bionic Weptop Accessories Start to Arrive at Verizon Stores

Kellen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:36:46 +0000

Over the weekend, we posted up a ton of info about the line of webtop accessories for the DROID Bionic that are expected to be available at launch including the brand new Webtop Adapter. Those same accessories are now starting to arrive in stores which is a good sign that we are on schedule for that September 8 release. We are a little concerned still about pricing though, and were hoping to see some sticker prices on these. The LapDock for the Atrix was horribly priced and to our knowledge, did not sell well. Could Moto possibly go down that same sky-high pricing road again? Oh, and we heard a couple of rumors that a pre-order could potentially start on Thursday (9/1), but are looking for confirmation on that. Gettin' closer.

Via: The Droid Guy

Onavo Lite Released to the Android Market, Take Control of Your Mobile Data

Kellen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:09:43 +0000

If you upgraded to a smartphone some time after July 7 and are stuck with a tiered data plan, Onavo is an app that should help you better understand and control that specified amount of data that you have each month. It's essentially a data monitoring tool that lets you know when an app is using an abnormal amount of data. We have been using the beta for quite some time now and have found it to be a useful enough app to not uninstall it. The current version that is available is free, but we have this feeling that a paid edition with a number of additional features will be available in the near future. Market Link

Anyone stuck on a tiered data plan? Think about this one.

Samsung Nexus/DROID Prime Cruises Through Bluetooth SIG with a CDMA Radio

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:58:03 +0000

A Samsung device by the model number SCH-i515 found its way through Bluetooth SIG today, which just so happens to be the same model number rumored to be the DROID/Nexus Prime. In the posting, we can see that the phone runs on CDMA networks and is also headed to North America. One could easily assume then that we'll see this device on Verizon, especially with the "SCH" in the model number which seems to be the three letter combo reserved specifically for Samsung devices on our favorite red carrier. (Charge is SCH-i510) Who knows if it's coming or not as a DROID or a Nexus device. Our sources say they aren't expecting this to be "DROID" branded, but at this point, it's anyone's guess. Via: Bluetooth, Ameblo

Monday Poll: Must Have Android Apps Of The Last Month Are?

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:25:42 +0000

It has been a month or so since we last asked you what your current app obsessions were. Since that time, we have seen a number of impressive apps, like A.I. Type keyboard (that I personally can't get enough of), HD Widgets for tablets, return of ESPN's fantasy football app, new Swype, SimplePLAY's song swiping, and so many more. Anything in particular though, that you just can't seem to get enough of? Discover an older app that you wish you had known about from the beginning? Maybe an app that we haven't covered at all? Let us know!

New LG Revolution 2 Makes Its Way Through FCC?

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:36:47 +0000

We first saw a new LG Revolution-esque model pop up when we reported on a device by the model number LG-VS920 that had appeared in a MAP (minimum advertised price) listing back in early August. That device, we started assuming, was called the Revolution 2 as it appeared in a massive leaked roadmap for Verizon just a day or so later with a 10/20 release date attached to it. Well, that same VS920 phone made its way through the FCC today sporting LTE radios and a similar build to the original Revo. You can see in the picture above that the camera has possibly been moved up the back of the device, but is still centered in the middle along with a housing for a flash. A Thunderbolt (Vigor) and a Revolution (Revo2) revamping all within the same year? And you wonder why we kept hammering on these phones for having last year's specs with this year's buzz word (4G LTE). Via: FCC

Samsung Announces New Version of Galaxy S II with LTE and Upgraded Specs, What's Up Verizon?

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:09:47 +0000

We still have no reason to believe that Verizon will get the Samsung Galaxy S II after their head spokesperson Brenda Raney, denied that they would carry a variant of it to the Wall Street Journal. And after seeing the Verizon version missing from a promo picture that was outed last week which featured versions from T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint, things are looking more grim then ever. But what about this new LTE version? Many of you saw the announcement over the weekend from Samsung that they have a newly revamped version of the Galaxy S II to unveil at IFA, one that will include a bigger 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus screen, upgraded 1.5GHz dual-core processor and, wait for it, LTE support. There is a chance that the rumored next Nexus device will be very similar to this phone. It doesn't have an HD screen though, but neither does the GT-i9250 that was the rumored model number. Other specs definitely seem to match up pretty closely to what we have been hearing behind the scenes. With Big Red saying "no" to the SGS2, that could also just mean they will re-brand it on their own network. A story this morning mentioned that the next Nexus will head exclusively to VZW with the "DROID" brand attached, but our sources aren't so sure of that happening. We wouldn't be surprised though if we saw some form of this phone on Verizon, just without the Galaxy tag - although, we aren't sure what the heck they would do with it. Nexus certainly seems like the next option if they don't go Galaxy or DROID, but that would also mean it wouldn't be exclusive. (Confused?) It's all a mystery still at this point, folks. Samsung is pumping out so many new devices and variants of current devices that it has become almost impossible to keep up with them. One thing we do know, is that they figured out a way to pack in an LTE chip without adding extra girth. Full specs at Android Life.

As Expected, the @DroidBionic Twitter Account is a Fake

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:48:13 +0000

Not that anyone is surprised by this, but the @DroidBionic Twitter account is a fake according to both Verizon and Motorola PR. Over the weekend, the account awoke after a few weeks of silence to announce that the Bionic would be in stores on September 8 (a date that has been rumored a number of times). The few tweets to follow were riddled with grammatical errors and an odd tone, which most of us quickly noticed and called out as being a fake. The only official word we currently have is "September." Via: PCMag, PhoneScoop

Verizon Offering Extra Early Upgrades to Long Term Customers?

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:00:08 +0000

An email showed up in my inbox on Friday night from Verizon that seemed ultra-odd and wanted to share to see if anyone else was in the same boat. The email let me know that I had been "rewarded" with an early upgrade on my main line, the same line that should not have been eligible until April 26 of 2012 (pictured above). Now, normally with VZW 2-year contracts, you have to wait 20 months to upgrade, which I am clearly no where near. So I'm not exactly sure what I have been "rewarded" for (maybe that I've been a long term customer?), but the timing seems nice knowing that the Bionic is potentially less than two weeks from becoming available, as well as the HTC Vigor. Anyone else?

HTC Sense 3.5 Gets a Full 5-Minute Video Preview

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:48:17 +0000

A first look of HTC's new Sense 3.5 that is expected to come loaded on both the Vigor and Bliss, made the rounds last week thanks to XDA.cn. Today, we have a full 5-minute video walk-through of it thanks to that same brave Bliss tester. So what's new in version 3.5? A lot. We have a ton of fancy new animations, lock screen tweaks and enhancements, a new dock bar that includes shortcuts to just apps and phone, ability to add and remove home screens, more interactive widgets, and a sweet way to adjust the volume. While Sense is clearly one of, if not the most polished skins of all, it can be a little overwhelming. It really transforms Android for the most part, but after looking at HTC's record profits each year, you can tell that people are interested in something like that. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V-CvDbicTg[/youtube] Via: XDA.cn

Samsung to Introduce ChatON, A Multi-platform Multimedia Messaging Service

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:56:52 +0000

Samsung has decided to enter the mobile messaging arena with a new app called ChatON, that will surely be introduced at this week's IFA conference in Berlin. ChatON will be a multi-platform app, which means it will not be a Samsung-only chatting tool, but will also be available to other Android handsets as well as Blackberries and iDevices. Similar to BBM, users will be able to share images, videos, and perform group chats in 62 languages. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMPEm147BPo[/youtube] I'm just wondering why the Google Talk team won't introduce these same features? Life with Android would be one step closer to being complete if GTalk would get an update other than video chatting.

Rumor: Samsung DROID Prime Headed Exclusively to Verizon as the First Device with Ice Cream Sandwich (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:56:04 +0000

If you were infuriated by the report last week that the Samsung Galaxy S II would not find its way onto Verizon, then maybe this news will cheer you up a bit. Everyone familiar with the Nexus Prime? Well, a report this morning out of BGR's camp suggests that it will actually be branded as the DROID Prime (SCH-i515) and will be an exclusive to Big Red as the first Ice Cream Sandwich device. I know, you are as speechless as I am right now, but it gets better (assuming this is accurate). Their report also includes a time line, suggesting that the device will be out in October to compete directly with the launch of the iPhone 5. Update: We reached out to our sources and they are highly skeptical of this being "DROID" branded. The Bionic is the big "DROID" device for this year, so if the Prime does come to Verizon, I would expect it to be a Nexus instead. While there is a chance that a Verizon version could be released before the other carriers, I'm not at this time willing to put money on it joining our favorite family of phones. Update 2: Some of our favorite Android Twitter personalities have weighed in as well: TeamAndIRC, black_man_x and P3droid. We all basically agree that a DROID Prime would be highly unlikely. Update 3: As I sat here all day trying to figure out a way for this to happen, I've come to this - Verizon could release a phone after the Bionic with DROID branding instead of Nexus that is made by Samsung as the first to run Ice Cream Sandwich. They did it with the original DROID and Android 2.0 as well as the XOOM and Android 3.0. So it's not out of the question that they could do this for "4.0", let's just not expect it to be like a Nexus would be. Expect bloatware, a semi-locked bootloader, but still stock (no skin). With that said though, there is nothing on the "DROID" calendar that I have seen other than the DROID HD which is made my Motorola, not Samsung. Does Verizon change their schedule constantly? Most definitely, so changes could happen in the next two months. Look at the Charge which was nameless until a month or so before it was released. Thoughts that immediately come to mind: Why release the Bionic on September 8, the HTC Vigor on October 6 and then the Prime shortly thereafter? Seems like overkill to me and would almost expect the Prime to be pushed to November. However, if the iPhone 5 does come out at the end of September or early October, I'm not sure either the Bionic or Vigor have enough appeal to compete with it. The Android world would need something massive, like the first device running Android 4.0. And, your thoughts? Via: BGR

DROID Charge CM7 Also Boots in Early Alpha Stage

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 07:39:08 +0000

It's still a work in progress, but to the DROID Charge owners in the building, you will be pleased to know that CyanogenMod 7 is inching closer to your phone. A team is in place and has booted it, but we are still a ways from it being ready for public consumption. In fact at this point, they are only listing the things that are working since that list is much shorter than the non-working one. This is still a good sign though. As this device gets closer to a more stable build, you will be the first to know. Via: RootzWiki Cheers Mark and SonicSayz!

CyanogenMod Boots Up on HP TouchPad in Alpha Stage

Kellen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 06:55:47 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c20yOVKm5UM[/youtube]

Now this is the progress I'm sure that many of you were hoping to see in such a short amount of time on the HP TouchPad after the firesale helped many of you land one for as little as $99. We were actually starting to wonder if it would even be possible to get Android booted up on this tablet - thanks to the CyanogenMod team, we now know that there is a damn good chance. As you can see in the video above, we still have a long way to go before this is ready to be booted up on anyone's device. That's not the point of this though. The CM team needs more devices in order to give this thing a ton of attention and has released this as nothing more than a publicity tool to draw more attention to their work on it, something we are happy to help out with. In a letter to the internet, they break down the progress and future plans for the TouchPad.

Here is some (older) touchpad progress from Friday. The Cyanogenmod team wanted to share it with the public as a blatant publicity stunt to bring attention to our need for a few more touchpads (for developers currently working without them). As you can see from this quick demo, we've been working hard and have made progress. Since this video was created last week, the build has been more "tabletized" (tablet tweaks added, etc.), lvm support has been added, and 2d hardware acceleration should appear very soon. The touchscreen driver issue is now the focus of our attention. Our ultimate vision is to create a *multiboot* solution where the end user will be able to boot into WebOS, Cyanogenmod, and/or other OSes. This appears to be very possible, and we have discussed several potential implementations with our new friends in the WebOS development community to make it easy for an end-user to set up. For the moment though, we need about 4 tablets, as we have talented and experienced developers who cannot contribute effectively due to a lack of hardware. If you have an extra touchpad and are willing to help the cause, please let us know in the comments below. A BIG CAVEAT-- PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR ETAS. For the uninitiated, this is the #1 rule for Cyanogenmod. It will certainly be a long while before our goals become reality. Our goals incidentally are not connected with any bounty-- we are motivated to do it right, not do it fast. And now the obligatory shout outs-- Thanks to rootzwiki and all the devs and everyone else who are collaborating and contributing to this project. You know who you are, you. The CM team www.cyanogenmod.com PS- Yes, this is gingerbread (Android 2.3.5). Everything you see, except for bootie the bootloader (a great kid's show btw), was compiled from source.

I would just like to know how many of you were actually able to purchase a TouchPad? Via: RootzWiki Cheers Michael K.!

Reader-Created HTC Vigor Wallpapers Invoke the Incredible HD

Kellen — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 11:00:13 +0000

(Click image for full version)

On Friday afternoon, we unveiled the first pictures of the HTC Vigor, a device that is rumored to be replacing the Thunderbolt as Verizon's next big 4G LTE device to follow the DROID Bionic. The look of the phone reminded many of us of the Incredible and Incredible 2 which made us wonder if Big Red had last minutes plans to make this device the oft-rumored Incredible HD? Whether that happens or not, we won't know until we get closer to October, but for now, we can dream of such happenings through a couple of wallpaper renders that a reader threw together for us this weekend. Both are 1600x1200, so they'll fit nicely on most desktops. How about a white version? If it looked like this, you could sign me up today.

(Click image for full version)

And if you like his work, be sure to check out all of the Incredible 2 splash screens that he has created. Cheers Patrick!

"Official" DROID Bionic Twitter Says September 8th is the Day

Kellen — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 10:30:39 +0000

Our Twitter timeline blew up last night around 10PM Pacific when the "official" DROID Bionic account woke up and starting spamming off messages about the device's impending release. We had heard September 8 on a few separate occasions without any confirmation from either Motorola or Verizon, other than that it would be here next month. Well, it looks like they were leaving it up to their rumored-to-be "official" Twitter account to break that news for us on a random Saturday night...yeah, anyone see anything wrong with that? We had been holding off from posting about this, hoping that someone at Moto or Big Red would find this announcement to be pre-mature and have it deleted, only that never happened. So either both companies have decided to announce the most hyped Verizon device in history over Twitter on a Saturday night or it's 100% fake. We're leaning towards the latter, still. You will probably agree with us too, once you take a look at some of this account's other tweets that have way too many grammatical errors for it to be considered legitimate. Via: Twitter Cheers all!

DROID Bionic Accessory Lineup Will Include Webtop Adapter for Quick, Inexpensive, On the Go Presenting and Sharing

Kellen — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:00:47 +0000

It's pretty well known that the lapdock accessory for the Motorola Atix wasn't a success due to an insanely high price tag and mostly buggy software. In fact, Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha in a Q2 earnings call, commented on adjustments to be made going forward with webtop docking accessories now that they better understand their customers. The big question remained though, what would their approach be for the DROID Bionic? We still are not 100% sure what the pricing scheme will be, but we are seeing a new webtop accessory called the Webtop Adapter that will be introduced as a less expensive ("affordable") option for those that are "curious" about the service. To use it, it's as simple as plugging the adapter into the Bionic's HDMI and micro USB port, and then running an HDMI cable from it to a TV or monitor. If you want to charge the device while webtoppin', there is also a slot for a charger. Not bad, right? More details after the jump.

Anyone interested in webtop? The adapter seems like a great option for quick conference room hookups, traveling, etc. The HD Station would be perfect for those that sit at a desk all day and want some extra access to their device. The Lapdock...well...we all own laptops, so I'm not sure who would need this, heh. Cheers ___ and ___!

Pantech Breakout is Verizon's Mid-range 4G LTE Phone, Gets Compared to Others

Kellen — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:00:34 +0000

If you were looking for an inexpensive 4G LTE device from Verizon, the Pantech Breakout will likely be one of your best options. While we don't have pricing, this device is missing from MAP lists and other major VZW documentation, leading us to believe that its their LTE stepchild. Its specs aren't awful by any means, but with the DROID Bionc and HTC Vigor (first pics) just around the corner, you can bet that this phone will be priced to sell. It has a 4" screen, runs Gingerbread (something no other LTE device on Verizon can say), front and rear cameras, Swype, Pantech's custom UI, 1GHz single-core processor, and 512MB of RAM. It matches up closely to the LG Revolution - hopefully the price does too. Cheers ___!

DROID Bionic Store Page Pops Up as Under Construction, Includes Official Pictures

Kellen — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:20:17 +0000

I'd say we now know where those "press" shots that showed off the thickness of the DROID Bionic came from, wouldn't you? The Motorola store page for the device to be exact. With it just weeks from a release, it looks like Moto has started working on what we are guessing is the old CES Bionic's page since the model number still shows as XT865. They did toss in a bunch of shiny new pictures of the XT875 version of the device though, but not much else is available. Thankfully, you already know all there is to know about the Bionic, especially after we gave you the full spec list in comparison to some of its competitors, this morning. Gallery after the break in case they pull it. [gallery link="file" orderby="ID"] Via: Motorola Cheers Tyler!

DROID2 Global's Gingerbread Update Soak Test Set to Begin in September

Kellen — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 09:15:02 +0000

After the DROIDX received Gingerbread back in May, the DROID2 Global was selected by Motorola to be next in line. Unfortunately for Global owners, the update was pulled the very same day that it was supposed to start rolling out, thanks to an enormous buglist that was introduced through the DX. Well, here we are almost 3 months later and the update is back and ready for prime time - at least to soak test members anyway. The initial test group of D2G owners will see the update some time in September (probably next week), with the full rollout happening shortly thereafter. Here is the changelog that was posted back in June:

Once this puppy rolls out, we'll only have the DROID Pro and Charge left as "DROID" branded phones without Android 2.3. Still no word on the Thunderbolt. Cheers A, S and J!

Comparison: DROID Bionic vs. Atrix 4G vs. Galaxy S 4G vs. Photon 4G

Kellen — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 08:00:15 +0000

(Click image for full version)

If you were wondering how the DROID Bionic will stack up against some of its beefier competition, then you'll want to click on the chart above that breaks it all down (excluding the Sensation and EVO 3D for some reason). Also, if you wanted official specs on the device (like we haven't seen them enough already), this would be a good place to look. We get confirmation on everything: 4.3" qHD screen, LTE, 8MP rear camera (shoots 1080p video), VGA front camera for video chatting, HDMI out, 16GB SD card pre-installed, 14GB (?) internal storage, Swype, "Motorola UI" (aka new Blur), LapDock capabilities, dual-core processor, and mobile hotspot for up to 8 devices. It has all of the specs needed to be considered a top tier device in 2011. Whether we think some of those specs actually are top tier is another story for another day. Oh, and since when does the Photon run HTC Sense 1.6? Is it from 2009? Cheers ___!

This Week In The Life Of DROID: 8/26/2011

Tim — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:00:07 +0000

It was a week of DROID Bionic and Galaxy SII news, and there was plenty to be had. While we get closer to a supposed September 8th release date for the DROID Bionic, we will continue to see more shots of the phone in the wild, and plenty more advertisements/promos. On a different note, we almost had a serious meltdown when information came to light regarding the SGSII, and how it is NOT coming to Verizon. Sorry, folks. Maybe the Vigor will cheer you up?

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Quick note for all our East Coasters - stay safe!

Exclusive: First Pictures of the HTC Vigor

Kellen — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:06:00 +0000

Hello, HTC Vigor. You have eluded us for the most part up until now, but we are excited to finally get a clean look at you. With your red accents, big beautiful screen, and black rubbery Incredible-esque contoured back, we would gladly accept you into our everyday lives. Rumored to be Verizon's next big 4G LTE device to follow the Bionic on October 6, we can gather a couple of things from these first pictures. It definitely has HTC Sense, but we weren't expecting it not to. There is a front camera embedded in the top right corner of the device, above a screen that looks massive. The device styling overall seems like an Incredible on steroids - something you won't find us complaining about. We aren't seeing a 4G LTE logo anywhere, but also are not seeing a Verizon logo, so will hold off from throwing too big of a fuss. It is likely just a test unit without any carrier branding. *Note - While I mentioned that the device looks like an Incredible, a few readers pointed out that the color scheme also hints at DROID branding and a previously rumored HTC device. Could the Vigor end up as the Incredible HD? Just a thought. Other potential specs that separate sources have told us were: 4.3" HD screen, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 1.5GHz dual-core processor and Beats by Dre technology. There are no indications that this device has Beats technology on the outside, but we have been told that it could be software-related. One more pic after the break.

Thoughts? Cheers ___!

Amazon Tablets To Sell For Hundreds Less Than $499 iPad?

Tim — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:17:00 +0000

Amazon will be stepping onto the scene soon with their Android powered tablets, as one of the last companies left to compete against Apple. Back in May, a few reports popped up about Amazon's plan for an Android tablet, but nothing came into full light. Now it looks like Amazon may have seen the light themselves, and similarly to what we saw last weekend with the $99 HP TouchPad craze, could look to recreate the same buzz to surround their tablet. It is reported that Amazon will launch the tablet in "September or October" according to a source from Amazon, and its main focus, is to sell for "hundreds less than the $499 iPad." Amazon will recoup their loss on the selling of the tablets at such a low price, from DMPs or (Digital Media Purchases). Not a bad move, Amazon. If Amazon is cranking out $99 or $199 Android tablets in the next couple months, who here is ready for them? And imagine, no cancelled orders the following day. Via: New York Post

4G LTE Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Review - Verizon

Tim — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:30:16 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 that just landed on Verizon beat the Motorola XOOM to market as the world's first 4G LTE tablet. It also managed to sneak in at cheaper price points, a lighter weight, skinnier build and with varying storage sizes and colors. At first glance, it's pretty obvious that this would be the tablet to jump on over the majority of the other offerings, for many of the reasons I just listed. The thing we really need to look at here though, is whether or not this tablet is worth the 2-year contract that you will be asked to sign in order to avoid paying an outrageous full retail price.

The Good:

Weight: The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is extremely light, which makes it the most portable of all the Android tablets in my opinion. Sure, other Honeycomb tablets aren't going to kill you, but if you hold a Motorola XOOM up for a couple minutes, your arms might start getting stiff. With the Galaxy Tab 10.1, I feel like I could sit in my office, and use the Galaxy Tab as a steering wheel while playing a driving game for a half hour. No problem. Weighing in at only 1.25 lbs, you'll have no problem running around with it all day.
Specs: This is almost a given. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is rocking a NVIDIA 1GHz Tegra2 dual-core processor. Switching back and forth through apps is a breeze, and you won't find your Tab trying to catch up with itself too much. And of course, it handles games with no troubles. The screen itself is arguably one of the best on the market. Even when compared to the i*ad2.
Gaming: Android has a little ways to go in the gaming category - when compared to Apple's huge list of games that run on the i*ad, Android could use some help. The games that we do have though, are very well developed, and look great on the Galaxy Tab 10.1. The biggest advantage is the beautiful display, bringing all any game's colors to a whole other level. Vivid reds, and vibrant dark colors. There is no doubt that this tab was made with gaming in mind. If you're looking for a good game to test this out, check out N.O.V.A. 2, Zombieville, and especially Age of Zombies. They all look really good, and have zero lag. Smooth gameplay all the way.

Flash: What good is an Android tablet without Flash support? Web browsing is indeed made much more full with Flash support. But then again, it is also a drawback when sites with pop-ups come barging in all over your browser. For the most part, I disable ads, since that is the majority of Flash on the web. There is nothing like strolling through South Park Studios, and watching a few episodes on your Tab though. Hopefully, Flash will become less of lag-beast in the near future.
Battery Life: Hello battery life! I turned on the tablet last Friday (the 19th), and I have not had to plug it in even once. I have been gaming, trolling the web, watching HD YouTube videos, and streaming plenty of TV episodes. After all of that, I am still at a pleasant 25%. Sure the battery might be huge, but it's still the thinnest tablet out there, and it lasts for almost a week. You can't beat that. The Galaxy Tab has an advertised battery time of 12 hours, well I would put my money on that NOT being false advertising.

Build: Lots of folks don't really care for a lightweight "plasticy" feel, but the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a wonderful feel in my hands. I'm not saying it will withstand a drop from a 10ft. ladder, but you are not going to be snapping it in your hands like some people may believe.
4G/3G Coverage: With Verizon pumping more and more into their 4G network, this tablet will have 4G coverage in most major cities. 3G will more than likely be a common sight on your screen if you do much traveling. Not having to hook up to Wi-Fi everywhere you go is a huge plus. But be ready to pay handsomely for this feature. Verizon's tiered data might just be a killer.

The Not-so-Good:

Still Camera Shots: The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is rocking a 3MP camera, so let's just say I won't be taking this tab into the field for photos. Basically, useless if you're looking for good stills. Blurry, and light enhancement is awful.

Ports: Unlike its Honeycomb counterparts, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 only has one port: a 30 pin wanna-be, which for some would be fine, but you can't take your phone charger and charge your tablet without the use of an accessory. Could be worse, but we were at least hoping for a micro USB as well.
Software: If you have a Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi only version, then you're probably running the newest software build for the tablet, known as TouchWiz UX. The 4G version has not been graced with this update yet, and there isn't word yet on a date for a possible update. Stock Honeycomb isn't bad, but I would agree with some who would call it "boring". I think TouchWiz is a definite step up from stock Honeycomb in this case.
Lacks Netflix/Hulu: We're still waiting for Netflix and Hulu to get their acts together when it comes to compatibility with Android devices. The wait continues....

Fingerprints: Just like any other tablet, this is fingerprint magnet. Sort of a given when you own one of these. Wiping them off isn't a huge deal, but it does become quite the hassle if you're working outside and having to deal with smudges on the screen becoming extremely annoying.
Price: One of the many gripes people have with tablets are price. Yes, they're expensive - sort of comes with the territory of having the newest and best technology. Sooner or later, just like we're seeing with the XOOM, prices will see a slight dip once they become aged a bit. Unfortunately, new tech is not like good wine. They do not get better with age. The Tab 10.1 weighs in at $529 and $629 on 2-year contract. You can pick up WiFi-only versions of tablets for more than $100 cheaper than that.

Unboxing:

Benchmarks:

Gallery:

[gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"]

The Verdict:

The Android tablet world continues to grow, and if this piece of hardware is any indication to the future, then I have hope. I have been fortunate enough to play with almost all the tablets that are available these days, and I would be lying to myself if I didn't say the 4G LTE Galaxy Tab 10.1 isn't my favorite. The combination of 4G speed, beautiful display, light weight, and processor power, this tablet could easily bring anybody into the next generation of tablets. Not everyone is going to want to throw down the hundreds of dollars that these tablets go for, but if you have been in the market, then the 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 would not be a bad road to go down. While we still wait for the Moto XOOM to become 4G capable, the Galaxy Tab is the only tablet in the field that currently supports those speeds, and you definitely aren't going to find an i*ad that's 4G capable for a little while. As Kellex has stated before, tablets are still a "luxury" item, and should be treated as such in the eyes of consumers. Does anyone actually need a tablet that has 4G capabilities? Why not just have a phone with 4G, and then tether it to your 4G to a tablet? So the moral of the story is - great tablet, with ultra lightweight feel, built for portability and has an excellent display quality. Are you prepared for it to be with you for 2 years though?

Verizon Partners With Intuit to Give You Mobile Credit Card Processing on the Go

Kellen — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:59:09 +0000

This week, Verizon announced a new partnership with Intuit that will give small business owners and sole proprietors the opportunity to accept credit card payments from anywhere using their smartphone. Similar to the service offered by Square, there is a swiper (pictured above) that plugs into your head phone jack, an app to take care of the transaction, and your smartphone to send the data out for processing. Your customers can specify a tip, sign for their goods on your smartphone screen, and even email them receipts. If you frequent festivals, you have probably dealt with a similar service. There are two different plans for users to choose from; the most popular more than likely being the free one. If you are interested, you can find out more information at Intuit's site, which includes an "exclusive" offer. Video demo:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htW9j25jTtA[/youtube]

Pricing plans:

Press release:

YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET NOW TAKES PLASTIC: VERIZON WIRELESS AND INTUIT TEAM UP TO OFFER GOPAYMENT; MOBILE CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Intuit GoPayment App and Credit Card Reader Now Available at Verizon Wireless Stores
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. & MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Verizon Wireless and Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU) today announced a strategic alliance to give all small businesses – from the sole proprietor to a medium-sized business – the ability to process credit card payments on smartphones and tablets. The companies are now offering Intuit’s GoPayment app and pocket-sized credit card reader in Verizon Wireless’ 2,300 retail stores and business-to-business sales channels. GoPayment makes it easier and more affordable for small businesses to process credit cards and for anyone who sells products or services to accept credit card payments wirelessly. The card reader simply plugs into the audio jack of a supported smartphone or tablet. Credit and debit cards can be swiped through the card reader or entered into the app manually. The transaction is processed immediately and funds are automatically deposited into a user’s bank account within a few business days. GoPayment supports devices on Android™, BlackBerry® and iOS platforms for most popular 3G and 4G LTE smartphones and tablets. “Intuit’s GoPayment on America’s most reliable network is a mobile transaction game changer, and brings another dimension of must-have technology to the small business community,” said Mike Schaefer, executive director of the Business Solutions Group for Verizon Wireless. “Payments and transactions are often the biggest hurdle businesses face. Our value proposition is to streamline, simplify and enable business owners to get paid with minimal delay. This collaboration with Intuit is an important part of our strategy to bring the most innovative online and mobile tools to our customers.” “Rather than lose out on potential business, anyone who sells a product or service can now easily and affordably give their customers the option of paying with plastic,” said Chris Hylen, general manager of Intuit’s Payment Solutions division. “GoPayment is meeting a huge need and is one of the fastest growing mobile payment solutions in the market. With Verizon Wireless, we’ll help even more people discover that they too can process credit card payments on the phones or tablets they already own.” To save time when processing payments, GoPayment offers the ability to create and sell from a list of frequently sold items. Depending on the types of goods and services sold, users can choose to apply sales tax, add tips and send customized receipts via text message and email with a map of where the transaction took place. To protect data, sensitive credit card information is never stored on the phone. The data is also encrypted – once via the card reader and a second time via the GoPayment app. For the more than four million small businesses that use QuickBooks®, GoPayment can also sync transactions with recent versions of QuickBooks – PC, Mac and soon QuickBooks Online – to save time by reducing manual data entry. GoPayment also supports up to 50 users on one account, which is ideal for businesses with multiple employees who work in the field. Pricing Verizon Wireless customers can get the GoPayment credit card reader free with activation of a GoPayment account and a mail-in rebate for the $29.97 purchase price. The GoPayment mobile payment app is free and the basic service has no monthly, transaction or cancellation fees, and offers a competitive 2.7 percent discount rate for swiped transactions. A paid version of GoPayment is also available for $12.95 a month and provides a low discount rate of 1.7 percent for swiped transactions. Intuit is offering Verizon Wireless customers two months of free service when they select this monthly paid plan. Customers who purchase a smartphone for their GoPayment use will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at $39.99 for monthly access. Tablet and smartphone users require a data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data. For additional information, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/gopayment or gopayment.com/verizon. About Intuit Inc. Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, simplify small business management, payment and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit's leading tax preparation offerings for professional accountants. Intuit Financial Services helps banks and credit unions grow by providing on-demand solutions and services that make it easier for consumers and businesses to manage their money. Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $3.9 billion in its fiscal year 2011. The company has approximately 8,000 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com. About Intuit Payment Solutions Intuit is one of the largest small business payments processors in the U.S. It processes annually more than $17 billion in transactions for approximately 300,000 small businesses. Over the last 10 years, Intuit has helped small businesses get paid and improve cash flow with a complete family of end-to-end electronic payment solutions. This includes services to process credit cards, e-checks and online payments via a variety of channels including mobile devices, Web and retail stores as well as integrated solutions such as QuickBooks. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 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.

U.S. Samsung Galaxy S II Variants Unveiled, No Verizon Version as Expected [from AL]

Kellen — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:37:43 +0000

Not to pour salt over our Galaxy S II wounds after yesterday's news that Verizon would not be included in the party, but we did want to point out that images of the three variants for AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint have been unveiled. So if you were holding out hope that the Wall Street Journal report was wrong, I would say that you can stop as this fully confirms it. And to Big Red, we'll just ask that you make up for this loss by releasing the Nexus Prime first. Discussion over at Android Life.

DROID Bionic And Accessory Bundle Will Land At Costco For Just $299

Tim — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:02:24 +0000

Our good buddies over at Droid Forums just scooped up a nice flier from an insider showing a sweet deal that Costco will be hosting. At time of release (September 8th), you can grab the DROID Bionic for its regular price of $299, and also get an "Accessories Bonus Pack". It will include the standard dock which we have seen float around, a vehicle navigation dock, plus a must have for any 4G device, a battery dock and extra battery. Looks like there won't be any reason to stand in line at Verizon, if Costco is having this deal. Everyone get your Costco cards ready. Via: Droid Forums

DROID Bionic Mini-Press Shots Sneak Out, A Clear Look at its Thickness

Kellen — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:54:32 +0000

You always know when a device is just days away from an announcement because a leaked something or other pops up every couple of hours. The latest, appears to be a set of press shots for the DROID Bionic that showcase its silver rim and more importantly, its thickness. With these side shots, we were able to match the device up against the DROIDX and decide if this will be the next 4G LTE tank from Verizon. It's actually looking like Moto may have slimmed at least a portion of it down a notch and isn't all that much heftier than the semi-slim DX. It may not be Galaxy S II slim, but at least in pictures, it looks like it could be manageable.

(Bionic on the left)

Via: Pop Herald Cheers @michaelfagan!

Did Samsung Confirm the Existence of the Nexus Prime in a Cease and Desist Letter?

Kellen — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:51:07 +0000

(Click image for full version)

We think we have a pretty good idea as to where this cease and desist letter came from, but will ignore that and look at how silly it was of Samsung to send it. After you click on the image above and read through it, you'll quickly realize that they fully admit to the existence of the Nexus Prime over and over again. Why is that silly? Well, because neither Google, Samsung, or anyone else involved in this device has admitted to it even existing. Sure, we have seen some leaked roadmaps for Sammie, a model number of GT-I9250 running Ice Cream Sandwich, and a rumored name of "Nexus Prime", but no public confirmation. For all we knew, Google and the Android team had yet to decide on the manufacturer for their next Nexus beast. I think we now know for sure that it's Samsung. Stop the speculation? File this one in the /facepalm vault. And just because it's so awesome, here is that Nexus Prime logo again, submitted by DL reader Nate.

Via: Geek.com Cheers huskerkate and Kyle!

HTC Vigor Also Receives WiFi Certification

Kellen — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:50:41 +0000

Yesterday the HTC Vigor (ADR6425) received its Bluetooth 3.0 certification, but it looks as if it may have received WiFi certification a few days before on August 23. Just like yesterday's news though, this doesn't mean a whole lot except that the list of things needing to get accomplished before that October 6 launch date is getting shorter. Need a recap on specs? Our sources have told us that the phone will sport a 4.3" HD screen, 1GB RAM, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 16GB internal storage, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front, and the brand new version of Sense known as version 3.5. The device should be similar in size and shape to the Thunderbolt (without the kickstand), which it is reportedly replacing, so that means we can expect it to be 4G LTE. It is definitely a major player. Via: Wi-Fi.org, Ameblo

DROID Bionic Gets Lengthy Video Walk-through: Wallpapers, Speed and a Minor Bug Included

Kellen — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:00:00 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqnb4DhNF90[/youtube]

By the time this phone arrives on September 8, there won't be any surprises left thanks to a couple of brave tipsters who continue to feed us magic. What we have here is another clip of the DROID Bionic that gives us a peep at what the static and live wallpapers look like, along with more LTE speed tests and an odd home screen bug. And while this video like all Bionic videos these days, will receive plenty of hate, there is one thing that is clear after watching this - this phone appears to be incredibly fast. Only some real hands-on time will tell the true story though. Here's to hoping that Blur doesn't bog down its dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM like it seems to do with every other phone. Cheers ___!

Download: Official DROID Bionic Boot Animation

Kellen — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 05:00:22 +0000

If anyone is interested in flashing the official DROID Bionic boot animation to their phone, we have it for you below. We have seen this puppy pop up in video and through a reader re-creation, but this is the real deal for those that are itching for more. Download: bootanimation.zip | sound file You do not need to be rooted in order to apply this file, but it certainly helps. Depending on your device, you will want to either look in the "Media" folder to replace your old bootanimation.zip or you can try sticking it in /data/local like we did back in the day. I'd try to walk you through instructions, but each phone seems to be different these days. Oh, and these sound files tend to be hit or miss when flashing. Cheers ___!

Samsung Nexus Prime Receives WiFi Certification

Kellen — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:26:20 +0000

The Samsung GT-I9250 aka the Nexus Prime, received its WiFi certification today, meaning nothing more than that it exists and could be on schedule for a late fall, early winter release. Rumored to have a an HD (1280x720) screen measuring in at around 4.5" (possibly 4.65") while sporting a next-gen 1.5GHz dual-core processor, this phone can easily be called the "must have" Android phone of 2011 for any mobile enthusiast. It is expected (rumored) to be headed to Verizon and also as the first device to run Ice Cream Sandwich - the version of Android that will blend together the best pieces of tablets and phones. With Big Red reportedly passing on the Galaxy S II, the Bionic receiving mixed signals from fans, and the HTC Vigor more than likely running a skinned version of Android, this may be the phone to hold out for. Via: Wi-Fi.org, Ameblo

HTC Vigor Receives Bluetooth Certification, Please Show Up on October 6

Kellen — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:22:07 +0000

With the Galaxy S II out of Verizon's lineup, we have one less device to worry about and are left with the DROID Bionic, Nexus Prime (still a rumor), DROID HD and the HTC Vigor (model ADR6425). Both the Prime and Vigor have been rumored to have gargantuan specs that include HD screens, 1.5GHz dual-core processors and more - something many of you are willing to wait for. If the Vigor is indeed your next mate, then you should grin at it receiving its Bluetooth 3.0 certification; a step that all devices must do now a days. By no means does this signal an imminent launch, but it is officially checked off the list. A rumored release date still stands at October 6. More info. Cheers DesertEagle_50!

A Look at the DROID Bionic's Battery Life

Kellen — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:35:26 +0000

One of the selling points for the DROID Bionic when it is finally released, is likely going to be that it has an above average battery life as compared to other 4G LTE phones like the Thunderbolt. We aren't exactly sure what Moto has done on the inside to hopefully extend the life of the device, but one would guess that they have done more than just slap an extended battery in it, since they have had months and months of extra time for optimization. Thanks to a DL reader, we have shots of the Bionic's battery meter at the 60%, 50% and 15% marks to give us some sort of an idea of what we can expect. What we have been told, is that up until the 60% mark, the device was essentially just running on 3G with moderate usage, allowing it to cruise through almost 15 hours without dropping much.

After the device hit 60% though, the phone jumped between 3G and 4G LTE for a while before locking onto just 4G LTE for the remainder of its charge. As you can see in the screenshot below, with what appears to be pretty moderate usage, the device still stood at around 50% after over 19 hours of use.

And finally, we return back to the photo up top which shows that after over a full day (25 hours) of what we are still pretty sure has been moderate usage, the phone has 15% left. We can gather a few things from looking at these shots. First, is that this phone already crushes the HTC Thunderbolt in battery even if it has just been sitting idle. The Thunderbolt, whether it was on 3G or 4G, could not last a day even at moderate usage. Second thing, is it appears as if this new Blur still heavily favors cell standby time and phone idle in its battery meters just like it does on the DROID3. Even with pretty heavy use, my D3 almost always has these two as its top battery gobblers, so it's pretty tough to tell how much usage this phone was getting on this charge. We did hear from our source that by no means, was this "heavy" usage. Overall though, this is a pretty good sign for the Bionic, especially with doubters expecting the battery to die in minutes with both LTE and a dual-core processor running. It's looking like with all that extra time that Moto put into this device, that they may have actually found some ways to keep it alive longer. Cheers ___!

DROID3 1-Click Easy Root Already Released

Kellen — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:20:40 +0000

Struggling with the manual rooting method for the DROID3 that was released this morning? No need to stress. A 1-click easy root has already been created by Framework43 and psouza4 for those of you with Windows machines. The instructions couldn't be more simple. Oh, and our homie @P3Droid is pretty sure that this rooting method will work for all Moto phones running Gingerbread. Hello, Bionic? Unless of course, Moto finds a way to patch it before we see that phone on September 8. Instructions:

1. Make sure you have Motorola drivers installed - [Download Drivers] 2. Download and unzip 'Droid 3 easy root script v5' - [Download 1-Click] 3. On your phone: Settings > Applications > Development > USB debugging(check box) 4. Plug phone into computer and select "Charge Only" mode 5. Navigate to 'Droid 3 easy root' folder and run 'Click to root your Droid 3.bat' 6. Now just follow the instructions in the command window and unlock the phone after each reboot.

Via: RootzWiki (be sure to check here for the latest version) Cheers Travis!

Adobe Flash Updated To Version 10.3.186.6

Tim — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:50:23 +0000

Always a good day when our lovely Android devices receive an Adobe Flash update. Enabling us to further browse and surf the web with ease, and joy. After reporting on the update to Google+, our Twitter friends didn't waste any time in letting us know that Flash was also issued an update. Market Link

Fixes and Enhancements in Flash Player 10.3.186.6 Adobe Flash Player 10.3.186.6 addresses compatibility issues:

Calls to gotoAndPlay() and gotoAndStop() no longer fail in some Flash applications which load shared libraries (2943612).

TextField instances which specify a negative offset (x property contains a negative value) now correctly flow the text horizontally instead of vertically (2941680).

Improved performance in some cases when displaying complex animations (2941931).

Flash applications at certain websites ) now load correctly (2944081).

Cheers everyone who tweet and sent this in!

Google+ App Updated, Includes Ability To Reshare Posts, Plus Lots Of Bug Fixes

Tim — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:17:33 +0000

If everyone is still riding the huge Wave of Google+ (anyone see what I did there?), you will be happy to know the Google+ application has been updated in the Market. Google seems to be putting their full effort into this one, and will continue to help it grow, making it become a serious contender in the world of social networking. Everyone still enjoying it? Or an even scarier thought, does anyone need an invite still? Market Link What's New:

Reshare a post

App now available in 38 languages

Incremental improvements to notification reliability

Clearer Instant Upload options in the initial setup dialog

Bug Fixes - Eliminate Instant Upload duplicates on HTC models

Fixed "No name" issue on Huddle, hidden 1:1 huddles now reappear when new msgs are sent

Fixed issue with notifications count changing when switching from portrait to landscape

Other performances fixes and minor UI tweaks

Is everyone still on the G+ train, or have we reverted back to Facebook by now? Cheers Dave and Mike!

Thursday Poll: The Samsung Galaxy SII Is Not Coming To Verizon, What Are You Going To Do?

Tim — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:24:15 +0000

With the breaking news of the Samsung Galaxy SII not heading to Verizon, people are now only left with basically two options if they have been in the market for an upgraded phone. You can either get the DROID Bionic, or continue to wait for something better. There are talks of the next Nexus (codename Prime) heading to Verizon, but at this point it is still in rumor/hypebeast mode. We know lots of readers here have been patiently waiting for Samsung and Verizon's announcement of a Galaxy SII launch on Big Red, and now with reports stating the exact opposite, what are you plans? [poll id="99"]

Report: Samsung Galaxy S II Not Making Its Way to Verizon

Kellen — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:44:01 +0000

I know, bad news on a Thursday morning. According to the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by Verizon spokesperson Brenda Raney, Big Red will not be carrying the Samsung Galaxy S II...at all. And I hate to say it, but we mentioned this very idea earlier in the week and are not surprised at all. With our sources claiming that the Samsung Stratosphere is nothing more than a keyboarded Epic 4G variant, and with rumors swirling that Verizon will carry the Nexus Prime (made by Samsung), the SGS2 in their lineup made no sense. We should also point out that we have pinged our sources numerous times over the last couple of months about the SGS2 on Verizon and they always come back empty. Verizon would not elaborate as to why they would not be carrying the device, but did mention that they "have an extensive portfolio that offers customers a great variety of devices, including the Samsung Droid Charge." In related news, the Galaxy S II will find its way to AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. Each carrier's variant is expected to be announced on Monday in NYC. Thoughts? Via: WSJ Cheers Frank and Scott!

HD Widgets For Android Devices, Look Especially Snazzy On Honeycomb Tablets

Tim — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:34:48 +0000

If you are like us, you are constantly on the hunt for widgets to fill up all that real estate on your Android tablet. The newest batch comes from cloud.tv, and my-my do they look impressive. There is a set of 13 widgets, including 3 over-sized "tablet only" widgets which look great. The appearance of each widget can be customized in a variety of ways ranging from the clock's skin, to whether or not you want system toggles or weather displayed. Definitely a good buy for the limited time only price of $0.99. Anyone know of some other awesome Honeycomb widgets we are missing? Market Link [gallery columns="4"]

Sprinkle Released as the Newest Tegra-Optimized Game, Will Have Kal-El Support in the Near Future

Kellen — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:35:14 +0000

Along with the launch of NVIDIA's TegraZone.com, we get a new Tegra-optimized game to check out called Sprinkle. As a "water physics-based puzzler", you'll see some of the more polished graphics and water physics of any game on the market. The idea is simple - put out fires using an adjustable water cannon. Completing that task isn't always so simple though, and requires you to reach back to your childhood fire hose days for inspiration. The game is available for $1.99 today in the market along with its 46 levels that can be unlocked by tapping 5 fingers on the screen. *Note - There will be a Kal-El-optimized version of Sprinkle once a device running that new processor has been made available. Market Link | TegraZone Link ($1.99) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO1lAEHW7sY[/youtube] [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"]

DROID2 Gingerbread Update Appears Ready, Changelog Available

Kellen — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:10:58 +0000

(Click image to enlarge)

The soak test for the DROID2 Gingerbread update was supposed to start this week - whether that has happened or not, we aren't sure. The good news is, that the changelog for the 2.3 update has been made available, which is almost always a good sign that the update is just around the corner for everyone, not just testers. Unless of course they find some sort of major bug like they did with the DROID Incredible. As you can see from the screenshot above though, the update is a big one that weighs in at 106MB and will take your Blur build to 4.5.601. With 2.3, DROID2 users will enjoy new multi-touch keypad shortcuts, the blue Blur, home screen app dock, organizable app drawer, improved battery life, and so much more. Page 2 changelog after the break.

(Click image to enlarge)

Be sure to let us know if you just so happen to receive this update in the next couple of days.

DROID3 May Have Been Rooted, We Now Await Photo Evidence (Updated With Instructions)

Kellen — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:30:56 +0000

The DROID3 has reportedly been rooted by XDA member djrbliss, one of the dedicated few that have worked non-stop on the device over the last few weeks. No photo evidence has been presented just yet, but we may have it within the next hour. And I should point out that while this is huge news for D3 owners, this might be bigger news for potential DROID Bionic owners. Since both will likely run similar everything including Android 2.3.4, we can cross our fingers that this root method will work on it as well. Update: Here is your photo evidence and instructions...

Update 2: The 1-click easy root has already been released here.

Instructions (via vulnfactory):

The Exploit Log in to the device using “adb shell” and type the following commands: mv /data/local/12m /data/local/12m.bak ln -s /data /data/local/12m Next, physically reboot the device by pressing the power button. When it wakes up, log in using “adb shell” again, and type the following: rm /data/local/12m mv /data/local/12m.bak /data/local/12m mv /data/local.prop /data/local.prop.bak echo "ro.sys.atvc_allow_netmon_usb=0" > /data/local.prop echo "ro.sys.atvc_allow_netmon_ih=0" >> /data/local.prop echo "ro.sys.atvc_allow_res_core=0" >> /data/local.prop echo "ro.sys.atvc_allow_res_panic=0" >> /data/local.prop echo "ro.sys.atvc_allow_all_adb=1" >> /data/local.prop echo "ro.sys.atvc_allow_all_core=0" >> /data/local.prop echo "ro.sys.atvc_allow_efem=0" >> /data/local.prop echo "ro.sys.atvc_allow_bp_log=0" >> /data/local.prop echo "ro.sys.atvc_allow_ap_mot_log=0" >> /data/local.prop echo "ro.sys.atvc_allow_gki_log=0" >> /data/local.prop The ro.sys.atvc_allow_all_adb property is a Motorola-specific configuration that prevents ADB from dropping its root privileges. Reboot the device one final time, and on logging in with “adb shell”, you should be presented with a root prompt. Enjoy!

Via: XDA, Twitter Cheers Raj!

HTC Sense 3.5 Makes Pictorial Debut, Could Run on Older Phones?

Eric — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:00:56 +0000

Remember yesterday how I said the HTC Bliss would have a new version of Sense? And it’s been upgraded to 3.5? Well XDA.cn did more digging into the Bliss and put together some screenshots of what they think is pretty close to the new interface. The problem with Sense 3.0 is that HTC slapped a hardware requirement on it (must have dual-core) and said sorry about your luck to anyone that didn’t meet that mark. Apparently they are backtracking on this and XDA.cn says that older models of HTC phones should be able to run this updated UI. 3.5 will still use the ring style unlocking system that 3.0 did but it will most likely show more notifications for weather and messages than it did before. The Sense widgets have been updated as well as you can see pictured above. The weather widget covers almost the whole screen now, down to the two new buttons at the bottom, of for applications and one for the phone. (more...)

NVIDIA Launches TegraZone.com, Updates App, and Wants to Give Away 5 Acer Iconia Tabs to Celebrate

Kellen — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 07:16:19 +0000

The folks at NVIDIA are taking this mobile gaming thing as serious as anyone these days. For months now, we have enjoyed their TegraZone app which highlights any game that has been optimized for devices running Tegra processors. So to help further influence this world of mobile gaming, NVIDIA has unveiled the new TegraZone.com website as well as an easier way for developers to submit games that they believe are on good enough to be featured as a Tegra-optimized title. Through this new site, you'll find many of the same great features you found through the TegraZone app (which updated today by the way), only you can access it from anywhere and at any time. You will see high res screenshots, videos, interviews with developers, and more. Oh, and to celebrate the launch of all this gaming goodness, NVIDIA is giving away five (5) Acer Iconia Tabs, plus 15 t-shirts.

Enter the contest | Visit TegraZone.com | Market Link

Press release and full details after the jump.

ABOUT TEGRAZONE.COM www.tegrazone.com gives consumers another way to access all the great Tegra Zone content, whether you’re on your PC, Mac, laptop, or other mobile device. That includes professional game reviews, high-res screenshots, HD videos, game developer interviews, the latest gaming news, and more. Consumers get everything found in the app, along with extras such as community forums. About Facebook and Twitter Testing: After you click on the Facebook Share or Twitter Tweet button, a pop up window will show what you would share if you proceeded. Please do not continue by clicking on the “Share Link” or “Tweet” button, as this will broadcast the beta URL to your followers publically. New Developer Program for Tegra Zone, “Zone In”: To encourage more game developers to develop for Tegra, NVIDIA has created a new “Zone In” section under Tegra Developer Zone at http://developer.nvidia.com/zone-in. Via an online submission form http://developer.nvidia.com/content/zone-application, developers can get their game in front of NVIDIA. Submissions will be reviewed and play tested, and each submission will receive a personalized response from NVIDIA regardless of the outcome of the submission. Developers accepted into the program will get their game into Tegra Zone. A help page with tips and explanations for developers can be found here: http://developer.nvidia.com/zone-in-application-help Tegra Zone Sweepstakes To commemorate the launch of TegraZone.com, NVIDIA’s giving away five Acer Iconia Tab A100 tablets during the first month. Readers can enter atwww.tegrazone.com. (NOTE: The sweepstakes section will reside under the Community tab, but is under development until Tuesday, 8/23.) Tegra Zone Android App Update: The original Tegra Zone Android App has also been updated. Via this update users will now see:

·         A “GET DEMO” button – about 25% of NVIDIA games now have a free demo/lite version of the game

·         Android notifications

·         Updated sharing (link to specific game/news page on tegrazone.com)

·         Better Facebook integration

·         International app feedback

Support for Japan, UK, and India; in addition to already available U.S., Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, and Spain

Motorola Tweets About Our "OG" DROID Friend, Hints At The "Next Big Thing"

Tim — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:48:00 +0000

Looks like Motorola peeps have been stalking Droid Life lately. Who else could possibly get away with calling it the "OG"? With all that to the side, we are starting to see a huge spike in Bionic advertisment, and we are sure there is only more to come. Remember all the highly edited, fast-shot commercials the "OG" DROID had back in the day? Hard to think that people are not digging this "Ninja Chick vs. Robot" ad campaign. What about all the DROIDX commercials? The "Eagle Eye" commercial created a whole bunch of hype, and better yet, the "See You Tomorrow" promo video was almost more epic than any full length movie trailer. Either way, fasten your seat belts because we are sure to be in for a extreme marketing campaign for the DROID Bionic. If you thought you had enough of this phone already, then you might want to stop watching TV, browsing the internet, or even leaving your house soon. Via: Motorola Twitter Cheers jlukes!

XOOM 4G LTE Upgrades Set to Begin, Business and Government Users Up First in "Pilot" Group?

Kellen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:23:10 +0000

Even though the XOOM had its "first 4G LTE tablet" tag snatched up when the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was released a few weeks ago, customers were still told to expect an upgrade to support 4G LTE some time in September. According to the email one of our readers just received, it looks like the upgrade is going to start a little early, within the next week for "business" and "government" XOOM owners. This initial upgrade group is said to be the "pilot" program before they start upgrading the masses. Wait, are there XOOM masses? Just as we reported back February, the upgrade will be free of charge and will be initiated by an email with instructions from Motorola. Along with said email, you will also receive a pre-paid FedEx box to ship your XOOM in with enough packing supplies to make it safe for travel. Moto and Verizon recommend that you back everything up, since the upgrade process will likely require them to wipe your device clean. Letter and instructions after the break.

How does a 3 business day turn-around sound for "business" and "government" customers?

Here is a link to the tracking site. While it's not ALL XOOM owners at this time, it is at least a start. Everyone ready?

Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple, Will Remain on as Chairman of the Board

Kellen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:52:24 +0000

Talk about news that no one was expecting to see on a Wednesday...Steve Jobs has resigned as CEO of Apple, but would like to remain on as Chairman of the Board. In a letter sent to the press, Jobs makes it clear that he can no longer meet the duties and "expectations" that come with being Apple's CEO and has asked that the board turn over those duties to Tim Cook who is currently the COO.

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come. I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee. As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple. I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role. I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Shocking. Whether you like Steve Jobs and Apple or not, this is massive news. He doesn't specifically bring up the health issues that have plagued him over the last year, but one would assume that those are the driving force behind this decision. The dude has meant a lot to the world of tech, so while we bat for Team Android, we can admit that this is still a pretty sad day. With that said, I can't imagine that he won't be leading the way in press conferences, product events, etc. for at least the time being. Thoughts? Via: ZDNet

Thumb Keyboard Receives Update, Allows For Custom Keyboard Backgrounds

Kellen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:28:30 +0000

Thumb Keyboard, our favorite tablet app of all time, received a spicy little update today that allows users the ability to slap on a custom background. The creative possibilities are almost endless now for an app that already makes life with a big screened device super efficient and fun. Besides the custom skins though, compatibility with smaller screens was improved along with some volume settings. And remember, these are all add-ons to the major 4.0 update that went live a few weeks back that introduced over 25 high quality themes and a whole bunch of customizable features. I know that I have said this a number of times already, but if you own a tablet, you should also own this app. All the new 4.3.3 goodies:

Option to set the keyboard background (create your own background or download special for the keyboard optimized backgrounds).
Adjustable volume, with better keypress sound handling.
Fully compatible now with smaller screens (hvga and qvga). All features supported.
Maintenance (bug fixes and better memory management).

Market Link Here is the DL background in case anyone was interested:

Cheers to @wjddesigns for the hookup!

Google Docs App Receives Update, Easy Image Attachments and 46 New Languages Included

Kellen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:58:07 +0000

Your favorite cloud-based document suite Android app received a shiny little update today that makes uploading pics from your phone to the Google Docs web clipboard much easier. You can't access those photos from the app itself, but you can load up a document through a browser and attach much easier (see photo below). And then the Google team also added support for 46 new languages. We love writing about apps that involve...work. Market Link

More info at the Google Docs blog.

Verizon's DROID Bionic Landing Page Tweaked Slightly, Now Says "September"

Kellen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:22:10 +0000

It's starting to feel like Verizon and Motorola are days, if not hours away from officially announcing the DROID Bionic's release date. The teaser/landing page on VZW's site has now been updated to include the word "September" rather than just, "Coming This Summer." And not that this is surprising by any means since Moto CEO Sanjay Jha mentioned September during their Q2 earnings call, but this is the first time we have seen Verizon make any reference to that time frame. After all, releases always come down to Big Red's word over the actual phone manufacturer - so this is a good sign. And be sure to check out the Bionic teaser that we received this morning. Cheers Jon!

HTC Bliss Shows Up in New Photo Spread

Eric — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:45:56 +0000

Pictured above, clear as day is the HTC Bliss, the phone that is reported to be all about the ladies. Situated on the left, the Bliss is next to the Desire S for a size comparison. From what we can tell it's looking to be a 3.4 or 3.7 inch screen with an 800 MHz processor packed into the phone. It'll run on Verizon's bands but also pack a 900 MHz GSM band as well, since Verizon loves to do global phones these days. According to the XDA.cn thread this phone will run Android 2.3 and Sense 3.5 and will have features that many other Sense phones do not have. Interesting. But what makes this a phone for the ladies? It's hard to tell from the top down pictures, but the bottom lip of the Bliss has a olive green tint to it almost and there are also rumors of the phone will light up on the outside whenever there is a notification. At this point it remains to be seen how HTC promotes this phone, maybe we'll hear a little bit about it September 1? [gallery link="file" orderby="ID"] Via: XDA.cn, Phandroid

Here is the Official DROID Bionic Teaser, This Campaign Clearly has a Massive Budget

Kellen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:38:55 +0000

There has been talk over the last day of a DROID Bionic teaser floating around at Verizon corporate, which also popped up as a blurry cam edit a few places on the internet. Good news for Droid Life readers as usual, we have the official version right here sent to us by a close friend. It's high quality, includes a battle of woman vs. machine, and gave us chills. This campaign is going to massive - we cannot wait to see more. Two weeks from tomorrow, and will see if this device can truly "Rule all machines." A lot of hype to live up to after all of these months, hopefully the marketing can give it a lift. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJaowSisMGs[/youtube]

ESPN's Fantasy Football 2011 App Lands on the Market for FREE

Kellen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:32:11 +0000

It's that time of year again - the time to grab a case of Natty Ice, some nacho cheese dip with Fritos, and cruise over to Big Willie's garage to get down with your fantasy football draft. Or if you live in 2011, you could just register online, invite all of your friends via email and sit in your recliner with your own case of cheap beer and cheese dip and get down without having to move an inch. Once you finish, you'll want to swing by the Android Market to pick up this year's ESPN Fantasy Football app that for whatever reason, is now free. That's right, after sneaking in at the semi-ridiculous price of $4.99 or so last year, you can now track all of your league domination for nothing. And I would say that this also means that I should start setting up our pick'em contest for this year. Stay tuned for those details. Market Link Via: Androinica Cheers to everyone who sent this!

DROID Bionic Shirts Arrive in Stores, Promo Video Cruises Around Corporate

Kellen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:57:51 +0000

Still no official word on when exactly the DROID Bionic will launch, but the signs leading up to it sure have us believing that September 8 is the day. T-shirts for the launch have started to arrive in stores along with a back alley promo video for employees eyes only. Oh and look, the Droid Eye that we saw again in a video yesterday along with a quick tour of the Bionic's Blur.

Please just get here already. Via: Phandroid, Android Central Cheers Adam!

Android's Smartphone OS Market Share Balloons to 61% in July

Kellen — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:12:06 +0000

The folks at Millennial Media released their monthly Mobile Mix report this morning; a report that includes a pretty shocking smartphone OS breakdown. In July's report, Android jump 15% month-over-month bringing their firm chokehold on the OS battle to 61% and also making that chart above just look silly. This is the 8th month in a row that Android has led MM's report along with countless others from Nielsen, ComScore, etc. The real test now, is going to be whether or not they can hold onto that share when the new iPhone 5 is released some time in the next couple of months. With rumors that Sprint will also pick up our foe, is there a chance that these numbers could drop significantly for Android? Seems unlikely at this point. And with the number of almost over-the-top spec'd phones on the horizon from HTC, Samsung and Motorola, this Android train seems to be picking up more steam by the day. View the full report at Millennial Media's blog.

Another HTC Thunderbolt RUU Leaked, Version 2.11.605.0 Of Gingerbread (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:29:01 +0000

Just a couple days ago, an RUU (version 2.10.605.1) was leaked for the HTC Thunderbolt. Well the gifts keep coming, and over at XDA, a user has leaked another RUU. The newest version is 2.11.605.0, and it is only pointing at the still imminent release of Gingerbread for all you extremely patient Thunderbolt owners. If you flash, you will lose root, and it will wipe your device. If you want to save root, wait for a little while until a developer can work on it, and package it up properly. Be safe. Download RUU Update: Rooted version available here. Via: XDA Cheers Joseph!

And Yet Another Set of DROID Bionic Pictures Appears in the Wild

Kellen — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:35:05 +0000

Shortly after seeing one of the first videos of the DROID Bionic in the wild, we received a brand new set of pictures that take us deeper inside. As you can see from the gallery, the Bionic is still receiving software updates to fix any last minute bugs before the phone is released to the masses on September 8. Also included is a glimpse at potential battery life (down 10% in 3 hours), the About screen (which shows Android 2.3.4), the SIM card/SD stacked slot, and its hotspot app. Is there anything we don't know about this phone anymore? Fun, fun. [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Cheers ___!

Asus Transformer Receives Minor Update: Netflix Support May Be Included, New Dock Software Too

Kellen — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:38:24 +0000

The Asus Transformer appears to be receiving a surprise update today that takes it to build 8.6.5.9 and possibly includes Netflix support. A Netflix logo found a home on the Transformer's landing page some time ago, leading us to speculate that support for the streaming movie/TV service could have come with Android 3.2. When that update arrived without it, our dreams were shattered. Thankfully, that disappointment was short-lived. Asus sure knows how to treat their Android customers. Oh, the dock software was also updated to EP101-0213 (drop into a dock to update). Transformer owners, go grab Netflix and see if it works! Cheers Todd!

DROID Bionic Pops Up in Video, Shows Off Boot Animation, New Blur and Speed

Kellen — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:14:00 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYN6ZPGOiIU[/youtube]

Up until now, we have really just had a bunch of blurry cam shots of the DROID Bionic showing the same info that our sources have been telling us for months. But thanks to a video just posted by our homies over at Phandroid, we finally get some live action. The first thing you'll notice is the boot animation which is essentially the same animation we saw back in May, so nothing incredibly new there. We do however, get a look at the Bionic's new Blur that many of you have become familiar with thanks to the DROID3. One thing I noticed though, is the speed at which this tipster was able to grab an icon and bounce it between screens. The DROID3 can accomplish a similar task, but that 1GB of RAM in the Bionic appears to make those transitions so much smoother. The bootup time also seems to be above-average. We did see a home screen redraw in there and a laggy app drawer at first press, but that was just seconds after the phone had initially booted up and is usually expected. There is an LTE speed test in there too at 1-bar coverage; nothing to get too excited about. What do you guys think? Still torn? Via: Phandroid Cheers Raj and Todd!

Earthquakes Hit East Coast and Colorado, Wireless Coverage May Be Spotty

Kellen — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:19:49 +0000

Many of you are aware that earthquakes have hit both the east coast (Virginia up to Boston) and Colorado in the last hour leaving cell coverage in trouble. We have reports from readers and industry connections that towers are currently out in Virginia and possibly up through New York. No word yet on Colorado. If you attempt to make calls, you may be directed instantly to voicemail. If you are in an area that was touched by one of these 'quakes, feel free to let us know in the comments if you have cell service. As we hear more, we'll be sure to update this post. Update: We're hearing that texting and data will still work in areas where voice has gone down. Updating...

Square Receives Update to Version 2.1, Fast Transactions and Easier Tipping are Go

Kellen — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:09:17 +0000

Food truck owners, Saturday market entrepreneurs, musicians, and all other transactional based businesses, be aware that Square has been updated to version 2.1 to make your life so much easier. For those not familiar, Square is that little white box that you keep seeing on top of the phone of the late night burrito shack you frequent that runs credit cards. It truly is one of the great mobile inventions of our time for anyone looking to sell goods on the go. Here is a list of new goodies:

Faster transactions: You can now check out customers in as little as 4 seconds and avoid long lines. Easier tipping: Optimized tipping interface so customers can quickly add gratuity with a single tap. Ability to skip signature: To expedite transactions, you can waive the signature requirement for purchases under $25.

Market Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MER3bzj6Dn0[/youtube]

HP TouchPad Purchased at Best Buy Reportedly Runs Android Out of the Box

Kellen — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:58:58 +0000

I'll just start this off by saying, "be skeptical" as this is one of the more confusing situations we have encountered in quite some time. As many of you know, the TouchPad and all WebOS products were given the axe last week by HP which lead to a firesale over the weekend. If you were anywhere near Twitter on Friday and Saturday, then you likely saw the thousands of retweets and SlickDeals threads leading to $99 and $149 TouchPad deals - most of which were sold out in minutes. The price drop also led to some developments on the Android front. First, a team was formed with one goal: bring Android to the TouchPad. Following their announcement, a bounty of $1,500 was offered up to the first person that was able to actually make that team's goal happen. Fun, right? Well, here is where it gets really tricky/confusing. The picture above and video below appeared yesterday on Reddit, from a user who apparently walked into a Best Buy to pick up a TouchPad and walked out with a device already running Android 2.2. Now, droves of people have already claimed it to be completely fabricated and we tend to agree that the entire thing is incredibly odd and filmed in a way that makes us want to pimpslap all parties involved. With that said though, there are some things we should point out. First, the name "topaz" made its way into the build number. Topaz just so happens to be the codename for the device. Second, at bootup, you will see the QuIC logo which means Qualcomm Innovation Center, the same company who tossed a processor into the TouchPad. And what should that mean to you? Well, that there is a chance this device was used as a dev tool at Qualcomm's Innovation Center and then somehow, some way, snuck into a box and then into a store to be sold. Sounds like a stretch, I know. To add to the story, the Reddit user who submitted this has been very cooperative with devs who are looking to get a hold of this device ASAP. We should know in the next few days if this is legit or not. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmpmlOpvoC0[/youtube] Via: Reddit, Notebook Italia, Android and Me Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Download: New Android Market Version 3.1.3 - New +1 Button and PIN Protection for Purchases

Kellen — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:48:04 +0000

A new version of the Android Market has unexpectedly started rolling out to handsets this morning as version 3.1.3. The update includes a couple of nifty new features to add to this already snazzy new store - most notably is the +1 button in app pages and the ability to set a PIN to prevent unwanted purchases of apps on your phone. A nice feature for those of you out there with little ones who like to grab ahold of your phone and frantically hammer on buttons. Download: com.android.vending.3.1.3.apk To install, simply download the file from above. When it finishes, tap on it from the notifications bar, tap "Install", allow it to replace your current market. Enjoy! Cheers to Mike and everyone who sent this in!

Video: Samsung Reminds Us How Big the Galaxy S II is Around the Globe, Prepares to Bring it to the U.S.

Kellen — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:25:21 +0000

"And soon it'll be big in America." That's how Samsung ends the video below after reminding each and every one of us that their Galaxy S II has been a massive success across the globe for months now. The good news is, that they have a press event scheduled for August 29 to unveil their plans for rollout to the U.S. which we are hoping includes all 4 major carriers. As you can see in the photo above, that nasty iPhone-esque home button has been removed in favor of the normal four Android keys. Other than that, the look has not changed all that much, but there is still a chance we will see slightly different versions pop around. Unless of course Verizon has decided to skip the SGS2 in favor of the Nexus Prime that has been rumored all over the place in the last week? I certainly hope not, since we are still a few months away from seeing Ice Cream Sandwich. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUinl4Wclr4[/youtube]

New Swype Beta 3.25 Released - Includes Gestures and Personal Dictionary Management

Kellen — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:03:24 +0000

We had heard yesterday that the newest version of Swype, that included gestures, would be headed to handsets other than the Nexus S 4G some time in the coming days; that time is now. If you are a part of Swype's beta program, you should have received an email concerning the update within the last couple of minutes with instructions on how to get all set up. If you didn't we have posted the instructions for you below:

How do I update? You have two options for updating... 1. If you have SwypeInstaller on your device, just uninstall any previous version of Swype BETA then launch the SwypeInstaller. It will update itself and guide you through getting the newest version of Swype. Make sure you choose one of the PRE-RELEASE downloads to get this new version! 2. If you DON'T have SwypeInstaller on your device, download the new Swype Installer & Beta here. (By downloading the Swype Installer you agree to Swype's Terms and Conditions.) Make sure you uninstall any previous versions of Swype first!

What is all included in the update?

Gestures - Quick cut/copy/paste/select all; quickly send info to Twitter/Facebook/Google Maps.
Personal Dictionary - Ability to add and edit your own words that are frequently used.
Swype Connect - Deals with licensing and gathering statistics on users. Nothing we care about.
Bug Fixes

A video of the new Swype in action is attached below: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DngXwUoyqCA[/youtube] Full changelog.

Twitter Adds Image Galleries, Hoping For Application Support To Follow Shortly

Tim — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:28:24 +0000

Just today, Twitter has rolled out an image gallery into everyone's user experience online. The gallery will pick up the 100 most recent images you have used on Twitter and put them in an easy to use gallery for everyone's enjoyment. One minor feature we are hoping they improve on is video links. So far, there are no video thumbnails in the gallery, and we are hoping soon that Twitter adds them to the gallery, or even begins a separate gallery just for videos. We will be looking forward to an eventual update to the official Twitter application to add this new feature, and make sharing all of our pictures that much easier. Everyone using the official Twitter app, or are you using a 3rd party? There is no doubt that a lot of 3rd party apps have better features than the official Twitter application. Let us know. Via: TechCrunch

Preview Of Google TV Now Available On Android SDK

Tim — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:01:52 +0000

If anybody here is an avid Google TV user, you will be pleased to hear that a Google TV preview has just been implemented into the Android SDK, and developers will soon be able to start building apps for your TV. Not only can they build apps, but some of applications will already be usable on your televisions. The Android Market will also be available on your TV, and you will have the ability to download and use all compatible applications right on your television set. Winning? Back at Google I/O, they mentioned that soon we would be seeing Android implemented into lots of household appliances, and it looks like the time is coming upon us. No, this isn't science fiction, it's the GoogleFridge! Having the Android Market on our TV's is great, but do we need the Market on our dishwashers? All jokes aside, do we have a bunch of Google TV users here? The Logitech Revue hit $99 dollars recently, and we know a few people picked them up. Go check it out. Via: Google TV Blog

Google's Acquisition Of Motorola Was For 17,000 Patents, But Only 18 May Be Needed For Battle

Tim — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:38:04 +0000

In the past few weeks, the tech world has been shadowed by a bunch of lawsuits filed by all of the big names. Apple, Microsoft, Oracle, and Google, all seem to be preparing for an epic showdown in the court room. Two weeks ago though, Google made the huge announcement that they would be purchasing Motorola Mobility for the tune of $12.5 billion. The reason behind the purchase was quite obvious, in that Google needed the 17,000 patents that Moto held (7,500 additional still pending), to protect their beloved Android OS from other sue happy corporations. It is now making light, that 18 in particular of some 17,000 patents may be needed to secure the future of Android against other mobile operating systems. So of those 24,500 patents, it the battle for Android could come down to a select few. As in the wise words of Bart Simpson, "Ay caramba!" This quote from patent lawyer David Mixon was put on record over at Phandroid:

One patent from 2001 disables a "touch sensitive" sensor when a smartphone is near a user’s head to prevent inadvertent hang-ups or dialing. Another from 1994 aims to increase data storage, while a third enables users to control when a global positioning system sends their location data over a network.

At the start of 2011, Google was the holder of just over 1,000 patents of their own, so adding Moto's 17,000+ should definitely broaden their chances of crushing any lawsuits aimed at them. It is still anyone's guess as to when this will all shake out, but this battle is far from over. What is everyone's views on all of the legal news? Getting tiresome? Maybe we can get #TeamGoog trending on Twitter? Via: Phandroid, Bloomberg

Monday Poll: Who is your favorite Android phone manufacturer today?

Kellen — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:27:27 +0000

It has been a while since we asked you all what your Android phone manufacturer of choice was, so let us go ahead and do that today. We have 4-5 major players in this game now that are all pumping out more impressive things than we can even keep track of. HTC has started unlocking bootloaders, Samsung is making ultra slim devices and possibly the Nexus Prime, Motorola has some fun things on the horizon like the DROID HD, and LG, well they are just LG. I'm not sure I could even decide at this point - you guys tell us. [poll id="98"]

Swype Beta To Receive Updated Version This Week, Lacks New Skin

Tim — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:54:24 +0000

If all you Swypers have been waiting for an update to your keyboards, then start checking your Swype Installer this week. Word from Swype HQ is that updates will begin rolling out soon (hopefully tomorrow), and it will bring your Swype version to the same that runs on Sprint's Nexus S 4G. Unfortunately, it is said to lack the black sexy skin that Sprint's version rocks so well. Thankfully, we have an unofficial word from an official member of Swype's team that everything in these updates will soon be leaning towards custom skinning ability. Why this has been such a hard thing for them to implement beats us, but later is better than never. No word on official changelog yet, but once we get the press release, we will be sure to post it. Everyone still rocking Swype, or have you moved on to bigger and better things? Let us know. Via: Android Police

Why I'm Still Excited For the Release of the DROID Bionic

Kellen — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:30:48 +0000

The DROID Bionic is one of the most hyped phones we have seen in the last two years, bringing with it a pretty divided audience who either can't wait to get their hands on it or are so sick of having to wait and hear about it that they have moved on to other Android pastures. We tend to agree with arguments from both sides, but in this post, we are looking to remain positive on a device that has taken up the majority of the last year. The phone boasts some pretty impressive specs, yet there are still those that remain skeptical as rumors swirl of phones to be released just weeks after it hits store shelves. Could it be too late for the Bionic? We will be finding out in just a couple of weeks. In the mean time, we have put together some thoughts on why we are still, for the most part, excited for this phone to finally arrive. Dual-core and 4G LTE The Bionic will launch as the world's first 4G LTE dual-core smartphone, something even after 4 months of delays, Motorola should be proud of. There truly is nothing like Verizon's new network, but to be able to finally pair it with a next-gen processor, has me excited. While you could argue that the OMAP4 that Moto has gone with is not of Samsung's Exynos processor caliber, it's still capable of crushing any single-core device in sight. Data speeds and power - two things that we have been waiting and waiting and waiting for - have finally arrived. Verizon's First Real Phone of 2011 We have seen a number of Android players land on Verizon this year; some 4G LTE, some not. But what we have not seen, is a real 2011 phone. What I mean by that, is this is the first phone to come equipped with nothing but tech from this year. The Thunderbolt, Charge, Incredible 2 and DROID3 are all solid phones, but each is missing something. The Bionic, while locked and running Blur, is at least pumped up with a dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 4G LTE - the 3 specs that many consider "must haves" going forward. Battery Life While we have no official confirmation that the Bionic will have exceptional battery life, that is certainly what we are hearing from numerous sources. Both Moto reps and our insiders have bragged about the life they are seeing while running on 4G LTE. We all know how badly the Thunderbolt has struggled since day 1 - let us hope the Bionic can change our expectations. Bootloader Let me be clear on this - the Bionic's bootloader will be locked at release. It just will be. However, with the dev community finding ways to unlock both the Atrix and Photon 4G, we are at least a little excited at the possibility of them also finding out a way to free this bad boy. There are no guarantees, but the outlook is a heck of a lot brighter than it was for the original DROIDX, DROID2, etc. Blur - Who Cares? I may get shot for saying this, but I no longer have a problem with Android skins. "Why?" you ask? Take my Galaxy S II for example. It has TouchWiz, which truthfully, I despise more than Blur, yet this phone is bar far my favorite of all time. And I've dealt with it by using ADW, throwing on Widget Locker, an icon theme pack, 3rd party browser, etc. Your phone can have a skin, but that doesn't mean that skin still has to completely run your phone. So when I get a hold of a Bionic, you can bet that the Blur launcher will disappear within seconds and I'll be on my way to customizing it to my liking. This is Android folks, we love it because we can make phones all our own. Adding Blur to the list of things wrong with this phone is just silly. The Next Batch of LTE Phones Not to completely shift focus, but with the Bionic getting ready to hit stores, we are also ready to welcome in the next batch of LTE beasts. Even if you aren't excited for this phone, you should be for what is coming next. When the Bionic arrives on September 8, you can mark that date as the count down to the release of what we are expecting to be some incredible devices that sport HD screens, are slimmer than any phone we have ever seen, and will last for days on a single charge. It's about to get extra spicy around these Android parts. Wrap-up Now, I fully understand that there were a lot of "ifs" in all of that rubbish I just went through, along with a potentially awful 4.3" PenTile matrix display, but this is the first time this year that I have been jazzed for a Verizon phone. And maybe it is not even this phone that has me all worked up - it could be that it is finally here and we no longer have to talk about rumors for it? Or maybe it really is because this phone marks the beginning of what could be one heck of a holiday season for smartphones. No matter what, we'll have the Bionic on day 1 and will put it through our variety of tests to decide if this phone has lived up to 9 months of hype. Will we end up being a bust? There is certainly a chance that it will be, but we'll do our best to find that out for real when we have it in hands, rather than just speculating on it being one.

Gingerbread Build for the DROID2 Global Leaks

Kellen — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:42:08 +0000

The DROID2 Global was supposed to receive Gingerbread back in June, but after Motorola realized that the build they had released for the DROIDX was filled with far too many critical bugs, they pulled it. Well, thanks to fantastic Android community member aceoyame, we have a leaked version 4.5.606 to try out. *Note: This file has not yet been rooted. Also, in order to flash this file, you will have to return back to stock 2.4.330 without root or custom recovery. *Note 2: If you update and decide you want to revert back for root or to get the official update, you can still SBF back to 2.4.330 after this. Download: Leak [mirror] To run this update, be sure you are on 2.4.330 with stock recovery. Rename the file above to update.zip, drop it on your SD card and boot into recovery by holding X+Power. Then choose to update. More info can be found at RootzWiki. (Ignore the unlocked bootloader note. It's still locked.) Cheers Gasai!

simplePLAY Brings Much Needed 'No Look' Feature To Android Music App Scene

Tim — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:27:24 +0000

The developer of simplePLAY is tired of everyone putting themselves at risk while they are driving, and having to look down at their small screens to press skip, back, and pause. He has implemented a no look feature into his music app, and it actually works exactly how you would hope. Using gestures, you can swipe forward, back, or any other feature you might need. The interface is well polished, and is on par with any other music app on the Market. Plenty of widgets, including lockscreen controls, and even has theme support. Unfortunately, Google Music is not playing nicely yet with 3rd party apps, so no, there is no Google Music Beta support. If you would like to give the no look feature a go, then you can pick the app up on the Android Market for just 99 cents. Market Link What is the one feature you wish all these 3rd party app had? I know for myself, that I wish it had some Google Music support. Time to start emailing Google, everybody. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9V8wKmI4YI[/youtube]

White DROID Incredible 2 Available Now from Best Buy for $149

Kellen — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:16:34 +0000

The white edition of the DROID Incredible 2 is now available exclusively through Best Buy for $149 on a new 2-year contract. The device insides won't be different than the black version that has been available for some time, but the color change is more-than-welcomed to a U.S. smartphone world that seems to think humans only like black phones. To recap, the device sports a 1GHz single-core processor, 768MB of RAM, dual cameras, no 4G LTE, and HTC's Sense. Also, when you first boot this pearly white entry up for the first time, it will be running Android 2.2. However, with the 2.3 (Gingerbread) update becoming available for the black version over a month ago, we are hoping to see it pop up in the very near future for this device as well. Buy. Here is our Incredible 2 review.

New Batch of Verizon 4G LTE Cities Goes Live on September 15

Kellen — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:16:19 +0000

Verizon just got done lighting up a new batch of 4G LTE cities on August 18 and are already turning around to flip the switch on more. September 15 is the day that at least 5 new areas will have access to this new super fast network that we are loving so much. And I say "areas" because almost every major city is already covered, bringing us to well over 50% of the U.S. population. We are now seeing batches of smaller cities get the green light. So who is up next?

Fargo, ND
Moorhead, MN
Rockford, IL
Moline, IL
Rock Island, IL
Bloomington/Normal, IL
Champaign/Urbana, IL
Springfield, IL
Mansfield, OH
Canton, OH
Lima, OH
Iowa City, IA
Davenport, IA
Bettendorf, IA
Blacksburg, VA
Las Cruces, NM
El Paso, TX
Wichita Falls, TX
Austin, TX
Shreveport, LA

There will likely be more, so we'll update the post as they are announced.

DROID Incredible Gingerbread Update Available for Manual Upgrading

Kellen — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:17:03 +0000

The Gingerbread (Android 2.3.4) update for the DROID Incredible may have been pulled by Verizon for further testing, but that doesn't mean you can't have it right now. The file has been made available for all users to flash - including non-rooted users. As with any RUU, this will wipe your phone completely and remove root. Your SD card will remain with all of its contents, but this is essentially a factory reset, meaning you will lose all of your apps. We should point out that since VZW has possibly pulled this update, there is a chance that they will reject it and wait for a different build from HTC. So there is a chance that this build will no longer be final and if you upgrade to it, may be off the update path. If you want to be as current as possible without root, then by all means, jump on this. And if you want to keep root, then head over to one of your favorite forums, as I am sure that ROMs are already being built off of this build. Instructions: 1. Download this file [mirror] and drop it on the root of your SD card. 2. Rename the file to PB31IMG.zip 3. Turn your phone off. 4. Press and hold the optical track button along with power - phone should boot to hboot. 5. You should see a list of options. Make sure bootloader is highlighted and press Power. 6. Your phone will start working. 7. Follow the on screen instructions until it finishes and asks you to reboot. 8. Enjoy! *Note - The first boot up after flashing this file will take a long time. If your device stops at the DROID Eye, let it sit there until it boots up fully. If it for some reason boots back to the HTC logo and then to the DROID Eye over and over (bootlooping), you'l have to battery pull and flash the PB31IMG.zip file again. Via: Android Police

Say Hello to the Nexus Prime Logo [Unofficial]

Kellen — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 11:45:23 +0000

On Friday, news starting swirling about that the Nexus Prime (potentially made by Samsung) was cruising around the halls of Verizon HQ, giving hope to those of us that have waited patiently for 2 years for a Nexus device to arrive. As a part of that rumored post to end the week, we 'shopped together a picture of Optimus Prime with a Nexus and Verizon logo to add some fun to the story, but boy were we just upstaged. One of our incredibly talented readers was motivated by our spotty work and tossed together the logo you are seeing above. It's Optimus turned Android mixed with a Nexus logo. Yeah, it's awesome. Just wanted to share the work of another amazing DL community member. A huge "Cheers" to Nate for making this! Check out his DeviantArt page here.

DROID2 Gingerbread Update Soak Test Set to Begin

Kellen — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:48:20 +0000

Our sources told us back in June that Gingerbread builds for the DROID2, Global and Pro had been pulled while they went back to the drawing board to fix all of the issues that were introduced to the DROIDX through 2.3. And now that a bugfixer has arrived for the DX, Motorola is ready to start pumping out updates to the all of those devices. The DROID2 appears to be next, even though the Global version was originally set to receive it first. Moto started sending out soak test invites to D2 members this morning, which is usually a good sign that we are only a week or two away from it becoming available to everyone. The test group should receive the update within a few days - the rest of the world shortly thereafter. Cheers M, S and K!

September Best Buy Buyer's Guide is Out, All the DROID Bionic Details You Could Ask For

Kellen — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 10:34:09 +0000

We saw a few tipster pics of the new September Buyer's Guide from Best Buy sneak out throughout most of last week, but we wanted to point out to everyone that it has been published to their site. If you wanted confirmation on all things DROID Bionic (except price and release date), then you should dig into this publication. The phone will definitely sport a 4.3" qHD screen (not the rumored 4.5"), dual-core processor, 8MP rear camera, VGA front camera, 1GB RAM, and 4G LTE radio. There aren't any real surprises, as many of you have come to realize by now, but that doesn't mean it still won't be a success. Oh, and we're expecting it to land at $299 on 2-year contract. Specs below.

(Click for larger version)

Via: Best Buy Cheers Ahobbs21!

This Week In The Life Of DROID: 8/19/2011

Tim — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:04:44 +0000

We have a Nexus headed to Verizon? HTC sues Apple? And Gingerbread leaks for the Thunderbolt? Our beloved DROIDX even got a Gingerbread bug fixer update. It just doesn't get any better than that, folks. We are getting so close to the release of some major players, and the anticipation just keeps growing.

Have a great weekend, everybody! If you see any Bionics in the wild, don't forget to take a snapshot and send it in. Peace.

Custom Theme Friday: RaidZero Delivers The Entire Color Spectrum For "NRG"

Tim — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:43:11 +0000

Just a couple weeks ago I showed you the newest theme to hit the streets by Paul aka "RaidZero". Well, he is now offering all the major colors for everyone's downloading delight on the Android Market. I have been fortunate enough to test and try out all the different colors, and they are definitely going to stay on my phone for a while. There are almost too many colors to choose from, but I suppose if I had to choose one, it would have to be purple, or blue. Which color you get is up to you, but you might as well get them all. They are sure to turn some heads at the next office meeting, and only run $1 a pop.

All these themes have been made for the Theme Manager based on CyanogenMod ROMs. If you have any questions, ask below and our wonderful community can answer them. Paul is always checking the comments, so feel free to shoot color requests and he might oblige. Enjoy, everybody!

Cheers Paul!

Friday Poll: Verizon Nexus or Something Else?

Kellen — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:03:41 +0000

If there is one device that the Android developer community would ask for, it seems pretty obvious that it would be branded as a Nexus and have the ability to connect to Verizon's 4G LTE network. Nothing screams Android like a Nexus device, but tack on the speeds of Big Red's new network and you have pure techie magic. With talk as of late that the next Nexus made by Samsung (codenamed "Prime") could find its way onto our favorite carrier, we are curious to know how many people would drop everything to pick it up. In our post from earlier, we asked to get some feedback, but as is customary around here, we want the results spelled out in a poll. So you have two options: Nexus or the field. [poll id="97"]

Bury All The Zombie Animals You Can, In Zoombie Digger!

Tim — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:28:30 +0000

In this classic battle of man against zombie animals, you must destroy and bury your enemy with much haste before they make it to your city. Zoombie Digger is visually appealing, and is actually quite the challenge. With zombie elephants, rhinos, and even zombie hedgehogs driving tanks, this game is bound to keep you digging for a while. There are many different cities you must help keep safe - ranging from Washington DC, New York, and even Moscow. But don't worry, there are also plenty of upgraded guns you can buy to help you destroy the living dead animals. Check out the video below to get a good feel for it, and let us know what you think. Does this game remind anyone of Plants vs. Zombies at all? It sure did for me. Market Link (free) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLKJulIsOY4[/youtube] Anyone spy a certain jerk terrorist at 10 seconds in?

HTC Thunderbolt Gingerbread Leaks Continue, New 2.10.605.1 RUU Available

Kellen — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:45:24 +0000

I was about to say, "We must be getting close! Look at all of these leaks!" But I think we can all admit that that would be foolish knowing the rough ride that the HTC Thunderbolt has had since its release almost 5 months ago. This is a pretty good sign though that we are getting somewhat close. We had previously just seen a "test build" of Android 2.3, but to see two semi-official builds leak this week, you should smile a little heading into the weekend. This is a full RUU and will wipe and unroot your phone should you use. If you want root, wait a few hours until a dev can package it up. Download RUU Via: XDA Cheers Bizzy and everyone else!

DROID HD May be Headed to Verizon as the Motorola "Spyder"

Kellen — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:15:27 +0000

The mysterious DROID HD took the tech world by storm on Monday when it appeared in a variety of photos over at Engadget. Up until that point, we had only seen the name attached to some Flickr photos and on an Asian site with photos of a follow-up Atrix - we definitely had no other details of it. After the pics went live though, we reached out to our sources to see what we could dig up, since there were some questions as to whether or not this was the rumored Motorola Dinara. Well first off, we have been told that this phone is not the Dinara, but is instead the Motorola Spyder (codename of course). It is more of a brother to the Photon 4G than anything, has a "different" screen and smaller MP camera than the Dinara, and should be headed to Verizon - something we could have all guessed if the "DROID" name attached to it holds up. As for the Dinara, we know that many people are under the impression that it is headed to AT&T, but our sources assure us that the device is at this time being tested on Verizon LTE. Could it end up on AT&T only as one of their first LTE devices? Most definitely. Especially with this Spyder device looking like Verizon's next big Moto offering. Our sources also mentioned that the Dinara is the higher-end device of the two, but were not told exactly why. Keep it in Rumorville for now. Add it to the list of codenames to keep an eye out for. Cheers ___!

Samsung Nexus Prime Seen Roaming The Halls Of Verizon?

Tim — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:54:11 +0000

Newest development on the Nexus "Prime" situation, is tipping towards it possibly being Verizon's first Nexus device. A tipster over at Techno Buffalo has stated that Samsung is shopping their newest Nexus device to Verizon, and that the device has been seen at Verizon HQ. This is what we have been waiting for, and what so many people have been begging for. If Verizon will loosen up, and allow for an easily unlockable device on their network, then we might be in some serious business. We have heard similar info from our sources, and now that we are starting to see specs surface, we will have to hope that it holds water for now. So far, we know the device will run Ice Cream Sandwich, have a reported 4.5" 720p Super AMOLED HD screen, and rock an OMAP 1.5 GHz processor. Definitely the type of device that would start making Verizon look like a good guy in the eyes of potential Android customers. If Verizon gets the Nexus, who is throwing their current device on the cool pavement and walking into their nearest Verizon store? Via: Techno Buffalo

HTC to Introduce "What's Next" on September 1 in London, Vigor and Beats News Expected?

Kellen — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:35:05 +0000

HTC has announced on Facebook, an event for September 1 to unveil "what's next" or what we are thinking is their next lineup of products. Anything in particular we can expect to see? Well, we have the HTC Vigor to think about. The rumored Verizon device that our sources have told us will rock a 4.3" HD (1280x720) screen, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, dual cameras, Android 2.3.4 and a brand new version of Sense (3.5). There is also a good chance that they will announce their Puccini 10" tablet aka the JetStream. This should be the first 10" Honeycomb tablet to be fully skinned by an OEM - the newest version of Sense for tablets is expected. All signs point to this tablet landing on AT&T as one of their first LTE devices. And of course, we can't forget about HTC's new partnership with Beats by Dre. The 9/1 event should be a great opportunity for HTC to produce more insight into how Beats integration will work with their upcoming handsets. After all, they did say that we would see Beats devices this fall. Other than that, it's pretty much a toss up. With Samsung expected to be manufacturing the next Nexus instead of HTC, we likely won't get news on that front. We are hoping to hear some talk of their plans to introduce an Ice Cream Sandwich device though, since this will be their opportunity to announce Q4 releases. Any guesses or expectations? Via: Facebook Cheers to everyone who sent this!

Minor Update Hits the WiFi Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Is Not Android 3.2

Kellen — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:57:33 +0000

The WiFi Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 appears to have a new update available that brings the tablet to version P7510UEKME from P7510UEKMB. The file is just 3.5MB in size and is definitely not Android 3.2, so we'll assume that it is simply fixing a couple of bugs introduced by the TouchWizUX update. Jump into Settings>About tablet>Software update now to see if it is available to you. Cheers Naresh!

DROID Bionic Teaser Gets Bumped to Verizon's Front Page, So Close You Can Taste the Metal

Kellen — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:45:08 +0000

The ruling of the machines is about to begin, according to Verizon's front page which now features the teaser you are seeing above.. The DROID Bionic is expected to hit stores on September 8th at the on-contract price of $299 or off for $589 and finally bring an end to the waiting. It's funny actually, that was the very same slogan they used back in January when they first introduced the device, "The End of Waiting." Here we are almost 9 months later... And we are just guessing here based on past info, but if you look back at Verizon's track record for phone releases over the last couple of months, it wouldn't surprise us to see a pre-order period starting around September 1 (week before the 8th). If that does indeed happen, we are only two weeks out from a flood of orders going down. That thought has to get you a little excited, right? Maybe? Via: Verizon Cheers zepfloyd, Adam and Tom!

DROID Bionic Hits Verizon MAP at $299 Starting September 8 (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:16:50 +0000

The DROID Bionic just hit Verizon's MAP (minimum advertised price) list and is looking poised for a $299 on 2-year contract price along with a second confirmation that September 8 should be the day that it finally lands in stores. We're not surprised at all by this number after seeing the Charge launch with just a single-core processor at the same price point, but are still wondering if anything over $249 is too high? It should still sell like hot cakes even at that number as one of the most anticipated devices in quite some time. Update: We just got word that the full retail will likely be $589.99. Definitely not $587.00 as was rumored somewhere yesterday. Unless of course Verizon planned on changing the $XX9.99 pricing scheme that they have followed for their entire existence just for this phone. Let us know your thoughts! Cheers BJK!

HTC Allowing Unlock Of HTC EVO 3D - Where Are You, Moto?

Tim — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:59:28 +0000

Users can now use the HTC site to unlock their HTC EVO 3D. Usually you would not hear us say this but, "This isn't fair!" Motorola needs to be looking at this and start taking some serious notes. Looks like we were right about our previous assumption that the EVO 3D would be next, followed by T-Mobiles U.S. Sensation 4G. Lucky, punks. At the first sign of a Verizon HTC device being unlocked, you will all be the first to know, and we will have a wonderful celebration. Anybody here own an EVO 3D? Time to unlock the beast? Via: HTCDEV Cheers Dave!

Track and Protect Takes Pictures of the Ugly Criminal That Stole Your Phone

Tim — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:53:06 +0000

People lose their phones. It is just a way of life for some. But if you have an app that helps fight against thieves, or even fight against yourself from forgetting or losing your phone, then you should definitely take advantage of it. Track and Protect has some very cool features including, auto phone lock at SIM change, remote phone wipe, and even report thief's location at SIM change. All of which helps smartphone users feel more secure when taking their devices everywhere they go. Probably the neatest Track and Protect function, is the camera feature, where it will snap a picture with the front facing camera if the thief doesn't enter the right lockscreen gesture after 3 tries, then send it to your email. If you take your phones security more seriously than the average user, give it a go. Free on the Android Market, with additional in app purchases for further features. Do you guys use these types of security apps? Have you ever had to use one? Market Link

Synergy.Life Theme Released by BGill55, We Have 10 Copies to Give Away!+ (Updated: Winners Picked)

Kellen — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:39:55 +0000

Update: We have picked our 10 winners - check your inboxes and Twitter DMs. Congrats to the 10! And a huge thanks again to @Bgill55 for putting up the prizes. Be sure to grab his newest creation, Synergy.Life, from the market. Android themer extraordinaire and friend of Droid Life, Bgill55, released the DL-esque version of his famous Synergy theme to the market today (buy it here). It's all sorts of pink goodness - just like we take it. The theme will run for $0.99 if you would like to pick it up now, or you can hope to win 1 of 10 copies that he has allowed us to give away. We should remind you though, that this is for CyanogenMod-based ROMS and Theme Chooser, so if you aren't on CM or even rooted for that matter, then you may want to leave your name out of this one. The contest will be simple as usual:

1. To enter, tell us below which device you currently have and what ROM you are running. 2. We'll choose winners at 5:30PM Pacific, today.

Good luck everyone! And be sure to thank @BGill55 for donating his latest creation.

Nexus Prime To Be Released In October According To Newest Report?

Tim — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:12:12 +0000

According to the newest development on Google's Nexus Prime, filed by the Korean site Electronic Times, Google's first Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) phone is set to be released some time in October. The report also suggests some device specs which everyone had been looking for - 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 720p Super AMOLED HD display, on a 4.5" PenTile screen. Do these specs speak to anyone hoping this device will unite the gap between Android's tablet OS, and their phone's OS? Is there a spec this device needs to have upon release? NFC? Bigger screen? Or how about the rumor that Samsung is making it, and that it will be available on Verizon? Let us know. Via: BGR

Magnifier - A New Service To Find New Music With Google Music Beta

Tim — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:19:14 +0000

If you love finding new bands, tracks, and jams then check out Magnifier. Magnifier goes hand in hand with Google's Music Beta, and their team is always on the lookout for you. Their team finds music, gives it to you for free, and you add it to your library. Instant winning. They have a constant flow of "Song of the Days", and they feel pretty confident in their music taste. Shall we put it to the test? Is everyone still using the heck out of Google Music? Still in love? Anything you wish it had that it lacks? Let us know. Feel free to sign up for Magnifier for free, right here. Via: Magnifier

Best Buy Offers Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Tab for Free With Purchase Of Samsung HDTV

Tim — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:02:15 +0000

Starting August 21st (this Sunday), if you had plans of heading into your local Best Buy to pick up an HDTV, then you should check out a Samsung. For one week, when you pick up certain models of Samsung HDTV's, they will throw in a 16GB Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, for free. Unfortunately, it looks like the smallest amount you can spend to get the deal, is to purchase the Samsung 46" Class LED 1080p Smart 3D HDTV, all for the low-low price of $1499.00. Not bad, right? If you had plans of ballin' out at Best Buy next week, then definitely check it out.

Best Buy® Offers Samsung Tablet with Big Screen TV Purchase

Perfect Match Promise offer includes Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with purchase of select Samsung HDTVs for one week starting Aug. 21
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 18, 2011 - Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), a leading retailer of consumer technology products, today announced the perfect deal for tablet and TV enthusiasts: Starting this Sunday, Aug. 21, Best Buy is including a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with the purchase of select Samsung HDTVs. The offer is valid through Saturday, Aug. 27. This week's Samsung special is the latest offer in Best Buy's Perfect Match Promise, a series of deals to help customers go big and go home happy. This week only, Best Buy's Perfect Match Promise offers customers a 16 GB Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with the purchase a Samsung 46" Class LED 1080p Smart 3D HDTV all for¹ the low price of $1499.99 after savings². Customers can also step up to a 55" Samsung TV (measured diagonally) with a 3D Starter Kit³ for¹ only $1999.99 after savings⁴. The critically acclaimed Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by Android(TM) 3.1 Honeycomb and offers a brilliant 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display with an ultra-slim, lightweight design. The Samsung Galaxy is included in a rapidly expanding tablet selection at Best Buy, which is advancing growth of the tablet category by combining the most tablets under one roof⁵with a shopping experience that allows customers to easily try and compare devices. In many cases, consumers are using their tablets as a remote for or complementary screen to their television and Best Buy helps individuals to find the device and connections to best fit their needs. Designed to help customers searching for the TV of their dreams, the Perfect Match Promise promises the most large TVs under one roof⁶along and other benefits such as: - 60-day price drop promise - let us know if the price drops in the next 60 days and the difference will be refunded - Satisfaction guaranteed - within 30 days if you decide your match is not perfect Best Buy will pick up your TV and take it back for free - 3-year special financing - pay no interest on home theater purchases of $899 plus if paid in full in 3 years⁷ - Free-delivery on TVs $899 and above - Knowledgeable, passionate people to help you get the perfect TV for your need For more information about this week's Samsung offer and the Perfect Match Promise, or to check out Best Buy's tablet and big screen TV selection, visit www.BestBuy.com. About Best Buy Co., Inc. Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is a leading multi-channel global retailer and developer of technology products and services. Every day our employees - 180,000 strong - are committed to helping deliver the technology solutions that enable easy access to people, knowledge, ideas and fun. We are keenly aware of our role and impact on the world, and we are committed to developing and implementing business strategies that bring sustainable technology solutions to our consumers and communities. For information about Best Buy, visit www.bby.com. ¹Products must be purchased on same receipt to receive package savings. ²$1999.99 TV + $499.99 Galaxy Tab + $349.99 3D Starter Kit =$2849.97 - $500 TV Savings - $849.98 Package Savings = $1499.99 ³Kit includes 2 pairs of active Bluetooth® 3D glasses, Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek The Third in 3D and mail-in vouchers from Samsung for Megamind and Shrek Forever After in 3D. ⁴$2799.99 TV (Sku: 2209261) + $499.99 Galaxy Tab + $349.99 3D Starter Kit =$3649.97 - $800 TV Savings - $849.98 Package Savings = $1999.99 ⁵Based on a comparison to National Retailers as of May 28, 2011. ⁶Based on a comparison of Big-Screen TVs (46 inches & larger) available at national retailers as of June 3, 2011 ⁷$899 Min. total purchase required. Minimum Payments required. Offer valid at Best Buy®Stores only. On approved purchases on the Best Buy consumer credit card. HSBC Accts: Min. interest charge = $2. Deferred Interest Info: Variable APRs as of 08/01/2011. Variable Standard APRs: 24.24% - 27.99%; Variable Penalty APRs: 29.24% - 29.99%.

White DROID Incredible 2 Headed to Best Buy August 21

Kellen — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:16:24 +0000

When we first reported news that Best Buy would carry the white DROID Incredible 2 some two days ago, a release date for it was still up the in air. Well, folks - August 21 is the day. You can head into a store on Sunday with $149 in your pocket and walk out with this BBY exclusive color. Aside from Android version and its shiny white skin though, there are no real differences between this and the original Incredible 2 (same processor, dual cameras, no LTE). It will start-up for the first time out of the box with Android 2.2 on it which we're finding to be odd. Hopefully the Gingerbread update is made available immediately following, since the last thing we need is another fragmentation bullet point to start over something as silly as a color change.

White DROID Incredible 2 by HTC on Verizon Wireless Network Lands Exclusively at Best Buy on Aug. 21
MINNEAPOLIS, August 18, 2011 - More exclusives are coming to Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores, this time with the white version of the DROID Incredible 2 by HTC on the Verizon Wireless network. The smartphone launches nationwide in Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores and online at BestBuy.com/Mobile on Sunday, Aug. 21. Similar to the original DROID Incredible 2 that launched in April, the white version features the Android 2.2 operating system, 4" WVGA touch screen, 8.0MP digital camera and 1.3MP front-facing camera and Mobile Hotspot capability. It retails for $149.99 with new, two-year activation. Best Buy Mobile has set a precedent of bringing exclusive phones and colors to the market, supporting its commitment to delivering a better choice of phones and networks. Best Buy Mobile is also focused on delivering straightforward pricing featuring no mail-in rebates; impartial, informed advice with a non-commissioned sales staff; and someone to be there for the life of the phone through key services like Walk Out Working and Geek Squad Black Tie Protection. About Best Buy Co., Inc. Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is a leading multi-channel global retailer and developer of technology products and services. Every day our employees - 180,000 strong - are committed to helping deliver the technology solutions that enable easy access to people, knowledge, ideas and fun. We are keenly aware of our role and impact on the world, and we are committed to developing and implementing business strategies that bring sustainable technology solutions to our consumers and communities. For information about Best Buy, visit www.bby.com.

Samsung Teases "Something Big" for September 1 IFA Event

Kellen — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:05:00 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZjTlR_v464[/youtube]

We are fully expecting Samsung to make their plans for the U.S. release of the Galaxy S II public on August 29 in NYC, but there may be something extra coming just days after. Today, a teaser video for their IFA event on September 1st was pushed to Youtube and most definitely features some sort of phone, although it's highlighted in gold so you can't actually see what it is. The video ends with a "Something Big Is Coming" line which we're hoping means big screens (4.5"+), big data (LTE), and big processors. There is no telling if this teaser is for a Euro release only (IFA takes place in Berlin) or if this could have to do with their NYC announcement. We're certainly hoping for the latter. Via: Phandroid

DROID Bionic Makes a Best Buy Buyer's Guide Appearance, Look Familiar?

Kellen — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:59:01 +0000

Remember the Best Buy poster that featured and teased the DROID Bionic almost a month and a half ago? It looks like that was a mockup of the ad that would find its way into September's Buyer's Guide - the same one that features the white Droid Incredible 2. Clearly, there are no additional details concerning a launch since we now know that this was put together some time ago, but it's nice to know where it was headed. A rumor started yesterday suggesting that the device could launch as early as August 26, but with that not being a Thursday, I wouldn't put too much money on it. Would be nice to see it early - I just get the feeling that after all of these delays, that pushing the launch up is the last thing on either Verizon or Motorola's mind. This phone better release without 1 single bug or they won't hear the end of it. That may sound harsh, but with a product making its way into customers hands almost 4 months after it was originally scheduled to, the expectations are going to be sky high. Cheers R!

Rooted DROIDX Gingerbread 4.5.602 Available

Kellen — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:20:22 +0000

If you installed a rooted version of the original DROIDX Gingerbread update, I'm guessing that you would like the latest version that fixes numerous bugs while staying rooted? The folks at MyDroidWorld have you covered as usual. There is a catch though - you'll need to SBF back to Blur 2.3.340 (or maybe not? See note) in order to install these files. That's the price we pay to have a semi-open phone though, isn't it? Downloads: Part 1 | Part 2 Instructions:

*Note - you may be able to upgrade without SBF-ing back to Froyo if you are 100% completely stock on .596, with root. You can find instructions here.

1. Return your phone to Froyo 2.3.340 using this SBF. 2. Root the device using z4root. 3. Bootstrap the phone using DROID2 bootstrap (yes, DROID2). 4. Drop both files from above on your SD Card. 5. Tell Bootstrap to "reboot recovery." 6. From within recovery, "install zip from sd card" and flash the Part 1 file. 7. Before leaving recovery, flash the Part 2 file. 8. Once both files have run successfully, you can reboot your phone. 9. Enjoy! Full support can be found at this MDW thread. Cheers Brett and David!

Pool Party Ups Invites for Current Users to 20, Who Wants One? (Updated With Winners)

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 20:15:24 +0000

Update: All 40 winners have been picked. Check your inboxes! Over the last couple of weeks, Pool Party ( the G+-esque photo sharing app) upped invites for current users from just 5 all the way to 20. And being the giving group that we are here at Droid Life, we decided to give them all away. Actually, we'll go ahead and give 40 away, because we can! All you have to do to enter is tell us in the comments what your favorite vacation spot is. Then in the morning, we'll pick 40 lucky DL readers some time around when we choose the DeskSMS winners. Have fun!

Root Explorer Only $0.99 at Amazon, Buy It Now If Your Don't Already Own It

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:09:10 +0000

I'm sure that most of our rooted family members already own this app, but if not, now would be the time to grab it. For just $0.99 (normally $3.00), you can grab Root Explorer, one of the top root-friendly apps of all time. When we were all just getting our start in the development and ROM game, this was one of those apps that either expedited many processes or saved us from soft-bricking. It's a keeper, folks. Buy. Via: Android Community

Contest: Win 1-Year Subscriptions to DeskSMS! (Updated: Winners Picked)

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:51:37 +0000

Update: 5 winners have been chosen - emails sent. Thanks everyone! Koush's DeskSMS application has been out for almost a month now, growing into one of the more useful apps we have seen in quite some time. The idea - send text messages from anywhere using Gmail, Google Talk, or (newly added) Chrome extension. It has received enough updates, polish, and stability over the last few weeks to take it from being free to a subscription-based service. Since Mr. Dutta is a big fan of DL and loves to give back to the Android community in general, he tossed us five (5) 1-year subscriptions to give away today! Each valued at $4.99 per year. So how can you win one? By following a few simple steps:

1. Follow both @droid_life and @clockworkmod on Twitter. 2. In the comments, tell us how many texts you average each month.

That's it! We'll choose winners in the morning at 9AM Pacific. To try DeskSMS today for free for two weeks, grab it from the market.

Google's Eric Schmidt to Host Kim Kardashian's Wedding This Weekend

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:58:00 +0000

This is something like 99% non-Android related, but it's not often that we get to mix celebrity and tech and just couldn't help ourselves. Many of you have probably heard that Kim Kardashian is marrying Kris Humphries of the New Jersey Nets this weekend...maybe? Well, if you had not, just know that they will reportedly head to Google Executive Chair Eric Schmidt's lovely Montecito estate to tie the knot. The former CEO won't be one of the 500+ guests, so we're doubting there will be any green robots running around or pictures of him with a Blackberry to be had (yes, that seems to be happening quite frequently). Interesting note on how rich this man is - he purchased the home in 2007 from Ellen DeGeneres for $20 million. Back in January, his stock in Google was valued at over $300 million. Check out the full spread of his digs after the break.

Via: AllThingsD

Tablet Support Comes to Google Reader App in New Update

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:10:25 +0000

Hooray for more tablet apps! The number of Honeycomb apps seems to be on the rise these days, but we could always use more, especially the apps we use on a daily basis. Google Reader is by far my top choice for a feed reader, so I couldn't be happier that it now looks tabletified. Sure, there are plenty of spicy photo-centric readers like News360 and Pulse that get the job done - I just like my news simple. If you want something without all the fluff and that reminds you of an in-browser reader, then this is a great choice. Market Link

BlazersEdge shout out!

Rumor: Asus Transformer 2 Will Sport the First Kal-El Tegra 3 Quad-Core Processor

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:26:58 +0000

While it may not look anything like the picture above when it arrives, the Asus Transformer 2 has been rumored to be rocking the world's first NVIDIA Kal-El "Tegra 3" quad-core processor when it arrives this fall. We were originally expecting to see tablets with this new chipset this summer, but due to delays, it could be another month or two. As one of the top selling Android tablets in the world, we're excited that Asus could be the first, but what we really care about is if this new quad-core chip can live up to its minimal power consumption reputation. According to NVIDIA CEO Jen Hsun Huang, the Kal-El could consume less power than its predecessor, the Tegra 2. Leave it up to chip manufacturers to give us extended battery life, since the battery gurus on the planet are still stuck in 1980 with their tech. Exciting, to say the least. Original Transformer owners, are you all-in on Asus as being worthy of having the Kal-El? Via: Fudzilla, Engadget

White DROID Incredible 2 Headed Exclusively to Best Buy

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:50:54 +0000

If you follow us on Twitter, then last night, you probably saw our tweet about Best Buy's plans to exclusively release an all white version of the DROID Incredible 2 some time in the next few weeks. Here is the photo evidence of those claims. In September's Buyer's Guide from BBY, they plan to pimp this shiny new version of the Inc2 all over the place. This isn't the first time we have seen the white and silver version or a color exclusive from BBY though, but it is the first time we've heard about plans for someone to sell it. As you all know, we're big fans (our review) of the Incredible 2 even sans 4G LTE. Anyone buying? Cheers ___!

Verizon's 4G LTE Network Will Cover More than 50% of the U.S. Population by this Thursday

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:15:50 +0000

Verizon plans to activate another batch of 4G LTE cities tomorrow, making their new super fast network available to over half of the U.S. population. With an overall goal of having 4G LTE in every spot that they currently have 3G by the end of 2013, I'd say they are well on their way. You can find the list of new cities to receive activation in the press release below, some of which, have already gone live. For those of you that have been enjoying 4G LTE for a while now, feel free to share with the newbies, just how amazing it is to have these kinds of speeds on your smartphone. Seeing 4G service early? Drop your town in the comments!

VERIZON WIRELESS’ 4G LTE NETWORK AVAILABLE TO MORE THAN HALF THE U.S. POPULATION

On Thursday, Verizon Wireless Turns on 15 Additional 4G LTE Markets and Expands Its 4G LTE Network in 10 Cities
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless is turning on the world’s most advanced wireless network in 15 additional cities and expanding its network in 10 cities on Aug. 18, bringing the blazingly fast speed of 4G LTE to more than 160 million Americans – more than half the U.S. population – in fewer than eight months. Consumers and businesses can choose from an array of 4G LTE-enabled smartphones, tablets, notebooks and netbooks, and hotspots to connect to the fastest 4G LTE network in the country, now available in 117 cities. On Thursday, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network will be available in Tucson, Ariz.; Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, Ark.; Bakersfield and Salinas/Monterey/Seaside, Calif.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Frederick, Md.; Worcester, Mass.; Omaha, Neb./Council Bluffs, Iowa; Albany, Ithaca and Syracuse, N.Y.; Altoona and Johnstown, Pa.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Provo, Utah. The company is also expanding its 4G LTE network on Thursday in Washington, D.C.; Tampa, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Baltimore, Md.; Boston, Mass.; Lansing, Mich.; New York, N.Y.; Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio; and Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah. “In eight short months we’ve introduced our 4G LTE network to more than half of the U.S. population, while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless. “This matters to millions of Americans because they can take advantage of faster 4G LTE speeds both at home and when they travel throughout the country – today and in many more markets to come this year. Each new market and expansion is significant as it brings us closer to delivering on the promise to bring our 4G LTE network to more than 185 million Americans by the end of 2011.” 4G LTE Devices Consumers can choose from 10 devices to access the blazingly fast speeds of the 4G LTE network, including:

·        Smartphones: Revolution^™ by LG, DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt^™ by HTC

·        Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab^™ 10.1 with 4G LTE

·        Notebooks and Netbooks: HP^® Pavilion dm1-3010nr Entertainment PC and Compaq^™ Mini CQ10-688nr with built-in 4G LTE

·        Hotspots: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot MiFi^™ 4510L and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot SCH-LC11

·        Modems: Verizon Wireless 4G LTE USB Modem 551L and Pantech UML290 USB modem

In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. For details on all 4G LTE devices visit www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE. When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast. Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas today who purchase 4G LTE devices to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their areas. Reliability: In and Beyond Major Cities As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy game-changing 4G LTE technology, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G LTE network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized. Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year. The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G LTE, including a contiguous, nationwide network license. Verizon Wireless’ vision also includes bringing its 4G LTE network beyond major cities. The company is working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G LTE network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum. Already, 10 rural companies have announced their participation in the LTE in Rural America program and have leased spectrum covering, in total, more than 2.1 million people in rural communities and nearly 62,000 square miles. These companies include: Bluegrass Cellular, Cross Telephone, Pioneer Cellular, Cellcom, Thumb Cellular, Strata Networks, S&R Communications, Carolina West/Clear Stream, Custer Telephone Cooperative and Convergence Technologies. Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, with many being fostered at the LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and the Application Innovation Center in San Francisco. Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 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.

Official DROID Bionic Details Emerge in Tips and Tricks Guide?

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:43:30 +0000

The set of specs that we saw leak for the DROID Bionic through Motorola's developer site a few weeks back are looking spot on. There were some questions around whether or not they were final or simply pieced together from other devices, but after seeing this leaked Tips and Tricks guide for it, I'd say those questions have been answered. The Bionic will have a 4.3" qHD screen, 1GHz dual-core processor (more than likely OMAP), 1GB DDR2 RAM, 8MP rear cam, front camera (likely VGA), 16GB internal storage, 16GB microSD pre-installed, web top capabilities, HDMI mirroring, and 4G LTE. Thoughts on confirmed specs after seeing the DROID HD this morning? [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Via: TechnoBuffalo Cheers Gary!

Verizon Rep: DROID Incredible Gingerbread Update has been Delayed

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:08:12 +0000

According to VZW support, the Gingerbread (Android 2.3.4) update for the DROID Incredible has been delayed. No exact reason was given for the push back, but they could have discovered a bug through an initial test group. They are definitely headed back to the lab for "more testing." Sorry folks, we thought you would all have it by the end of this week. *Note - If you are rooted and want to enjoy the update now, head over to XDA. Via: Verizon Forums Cheers Mike and everyone else!

DROID Bionic and XOOM 4G LTE Receive Accessory Landing Pages

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:37:14 +0000

One of our readers was digging around Verizon's site this morning and noticed that both the DROID Bionic and Motorola XOOM 4G LTE have their own accessory landing pages set up. Neither page will show you actual accessories, but is a good sign that we could see this new LTE XOOM before long. With the LTE upgrade set to happen some time in September, we would guess that this version will be here around that same time. Probably wouldn't be wise for Moto to release a version with LTE before the early adopters and their 3G version ever see it. Oh, and the Bionic was also included, but we know that it will be available some time around September 8 (still a rumor).

Cheers Tyler!

New HTC Thunderbolt Gingerbread Builds Released for Non-Rooted and Rooted Users

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:05:39 +0000

We'll start this off by saying that this is NOT the final Gingerbread build that your HTC Thunderbolt will receive from Verizon whenever it gets approved. This is technically an "official" build from HTC and Verizon, but again, is not THE build you will see when they start rolling out 2.3. What I'm trying to tell you, is that if you load this, there is also a chance that you could be stuck with it for good (non-rooted users of course). That make sense? If you are interested though, our buddy Chingy has made version 2.07.605.0 available for both non-rooted and rooted users to test drive. Actually, "test drive" is a bad word since this is no longer a test build and is the closest thing we've seen to a final release. I know that both the Incredible and Incredible 2 received 2.3 before it, but at least we're finally getting close. Download links can be found over at the Mik Mik. (You'll have to register, sorry.) Via: RootzWiki Cheers Steve!

Motorola DROID HD Makes First Major Appearance, Sounds Like the Rumored Dinara (or is it?) (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 06:41:15 +0000

And, whoa. You be looking at Motorola's next big device, called the DROID HD. We've seen this name a number of times before, but up until this morning, had not had even a glimpse at what it may look like. Well folks, here you go. Prepare to be blown away by what could be one of the thinnest devices on the planet - one that makes the Bionic look like a thick tank. The device is said to have a 4.5" screen (more than likely HD, hence the name), Android 2.3 (stock?), 8MP HD camera, front camera, and HDMI out. There is also a compartment on the side for loading a microSD and SIM card (suggesting non-removable battery), something that would lead us to believe this phone is 4G LTE. We could probably go ahead and assume it'll run some next-gen dual-core processor, but those specs were not reveiled. Lock switch on the side; same size as the Bionic with a potentially larger screen. Update: As one dedicated reader (zepfloyd) pointed out, this indeed sounds exactly like the Motorola Dinara we reported on back in July. Our sources said that the device would have an HD screen, lock switch on the side, would be the same size as the Bionic but with a bigger screen, a non-removable battery, and would be much, much thinner. Yep, I'd say this is it. Update 2: Just heard from our sources that this is not the Dinara. Hoping to have more details soon. Most importantly though, this phone is unbelievable thin. Let's jump through a series of photos that compare it to the Bionic, so you can really get a feel for what the DROID HD may be.

(DROID HD on the right)

Still can't tell how thin it is next to the Bionic? Check this one out:

And how about another by itself - brace yourselves:

Try and tell me you aren't blown away by that? We are talking Galaxy S II thin here, unless of course this guy has the biggest hands on the planet. Whatever Motorola has planned for the future though, we are most definitely looking to be a part of it. There is also a shot of that side lock switch. Here is the side compartment with SIM and SD slot:

And finally, one more comparison to the Bionic:

There is no telling when this device could see the light of day, especially with the Bionic not even in stores yet. We are thinking there is a chance for the holiday season, since Moto CEO Sanjay Jha told us last month that they would have another LTE phone by the end of the year. They could easily have meant on AT&T's network though, but we're hoping for Big Red. I'm officially blown away. Let us know how you are feeling. Gallery: [gallery link="file" orderby="ID"] *Note - In the pack of pics that were sent to Engadget, there was a look at a device with the back off, showing the battery. That picture was of the Bionic's battery, not this DROID HD. Via: Engadget Cheers Bjorn and everyone else!

New Version of Swype Includes Gestures and Quick Twitter, Facebook and Google Maps Launching - Available Now To Nexus S 4G

Kellen — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:03:59 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNNoEgY5emg[/youtube]

If things seem to be a little quiet on the Swype front these days, it is probably because they have been working extra hard behind the scenes with carriers and phone manufacturers to introduce a handful of new features. Sprint Nexus S 4G owners have the opportunity to download a new version (3.25.91) today, before the general public. The Swype team has added in gestures to make for easy copy, cut, and selecting, as well as a way to quickly launch some of your favorite apps like Twitter, Facebook and Google Maps. The plan is to roll this out to NS4G owners first (download here) and then make it available to everyone in their beta program "soon." What are your current thoughts on Swype? Was certainly one of the top keyboards of 2010, but now we have so many incredible options to choose from like Swiftkey, FlexT9 and A.I.Type.

ADW EX Receives Update, Android 3.2 Support and Other Minor Tweaks

Tim — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:51:09 +0000

Mr. AnderWebs has released an update to his extremely popular ADW EX home replacement app today, and the crowds of fans are happy. The changelog is somewhat minor, but it still leaves other home replacements in the dust as they play catch up. If you have been using ADW on your Honeycomb tablet, then this update is definitely right up your alley. Market Link

What's New:

Fix incompatibility with Android 3.2

In Android 3.x, the top Actionbar displays a customizable shirtcut to the left.

New dockbar design thanks to @josuas79

The dockbar can now be set as "primary"

Both docks are now always horizontally placed at the bottom on big screen devices (10″ tablets)

Drag and drop items inside dockbar folders.

New "Quick Folder Popup" implementation for user folders and groups launcher actions.

A bunch of other small tweaks and fixes.

Note: Anders has just tweeted that the "Hide Labels" feature has been broken with this update though, and he will issue a fix tomorrow. Everyone still using either ADW EX, or LauncherPro? We have definitely seen a huge increase of people using GO Launcher as well these past couple of months. Let's all be grateful that we have the option to choose. Cheers Dave Kover!

Google Maps on Android Receives Update - Transit Notifications, Tablet Support and Bubble Buttons Added

Kellen — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:22:08 +0000

We are not exactly sure why Google removed the bubble buttons option from Google Maps, but they have returned in an update that should be available to you all in the market right now. Along with those quick calling and navigation buttons, we also get new transit goodies. If you are in a city that supports transit navigation, you'll find ringtone/notification settings and tablet support. Another solid update for one of the greatest apps ever invented. Seriously, what would we do without Google Maps? Market Link Cheers Chris!

Minecraft Pocket Edition Released For Android, But Don't Get Too Excited Yet

Tim — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:51:14 +0000

Prepare to cry tears of joy my fellow Minecrafters. Mojang has just recently published Minecraft for Android on the Market. But don't get too far ahead of yourselves if you do not own an Xperia Play. Minecraft has been released with only one compatible device for the next month or so, and yes, it's the Play. The full edition of the app will run you $7, so that isn't anything to cringe too much at, since we were expecting a $10 price tag.

The game is only missing a few things for being a mobile version. Most players of Minecraft use the "Survival Mode", and that is something which this mobile version lacks. We are hoping the developers will be adding it soon, but for now, you just get to run around with other players on local wi-fi networks and build things. No creepers, zombies, or skeleton archers. Kind of boring, right?

Fingers crossed that it remains the price of $7 when it is released for all other compatible devices. We are doubting it will be available for any devices with no physical keyboards though, seeing as how Minecraft relies heavily on keys, and on screen controls for this game would seem somewhat silly.

Market Link (Demo Version) | Market Link (Full Version)

Who is super stoked for Minecraft on Android?

Cheers everyone who sent this in!

Best Buy's "Free Phone Wednesday" Kicks Off Tomorrow: Atrix, Nexus S 4G and Fascinate Available at No Cost

Kellen — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:34:54 +0000

When we received a tip earlier in the week that Best Buy was planning something major for August 17 and 22, we were hoping for the world, but were pretty sure they were going to be running free phone promos instead. Free phones were confirmed today through a small press release. So for one day only (tomorrow), you can cruise into a Best Buy and pick up an Atrix 4G, Nexus S 4G or Samsung Fascinate for free with a new 2-year contract. And yes, I said Fascinate - the same phone that Verizon no longer carries. Hopefully they pick a better Verizon option on the 22nd. Cheers ___!

MIUI Phone Caught on Video, Launch Event Goes Off Today

Kellen — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:40:29 +0000

Had a hard time wrapping your brain around a MIUI phone actually making its way onto store shelves over in China? It's the real deal, folks. A video of the device has surfaced on YouTube, showing off every little crevice of its 1.5GHz dual-core, 1GB RAM, 4", MIUI-running self. Oh, and if this still doesn't look legit enough, we're seeing that the Engadget team is on the scene of the announcement event which appears to be going on right now. Tasty little MIUI morsel. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnD37Tlolbg[/youtube] Cheers ben!

HTC Sues Apple, Seeks To Ban Sale Of Apple's Products In United States

Tim — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:39:47 +0000

In a slight change of lineup, HTC has now sued Apple for patent infringement. Their claim is that Apple is infringing on several patents that are in use on Apple's i*ods, i*ads, i*hones, and their wide range of computers (did HTC patent glass?!?). Is this not becoming more and more ridiculous? HTC has not released information on which specific patents Apple is infringing, but we are sure the legal docs shall be released eventually. What's even better is that HTC is seeking to ban the sale of these products in the entire US. Excuse me but, "zOMG!" Someone in Washington needs to give all these companies a good spanking for all this craziness. Rest assured, if HTC has a case, this will make national news. Even more news worthy is if they win and Apple has to stop selling their products. Could you imagine that? What are everyone's thoughts on this newest lawsuit? Getting a tidbit crazy now? Via: Phandroid

Firefox For Android Receives Makeover, Starts Delivering Tools For Developers To Create Richer Web Experiences

Tim — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:01:45 +0000

Not too long ago, Firefox started a march for a better web experience. Today, Firefox has taken it's first true step towards that goal. They have updated their Android application, and have given Firefox for Android a very nice face lift, and more importantly, have given developers the tools to build better web applications, and websites.

The new welcome page helps users discover browser tools and features (like Firefox Sync, add-ons, tabbed browsing and bookmarks) that are conveniently stowed away in the side panels. Many users will notice faster zooming, crisp text and reduced pixelation due to enhanced image rendering in Firefox for Android. Firefox for Android adds support for tools that help developers create rich, compelling mobile Web apps and websites. With the single touch events API, developers can build Web experiences that detect touch events and gestures. Imagine mobile Web apps that enable users to swipe their finger to pan around a map and mobile Web games that let you swipe a finger to swing a baseball bat or pull a slingshot to launch an angry bird. Support for multi-touch events will be added in future releases.

Which mobile browser people tend to use is a big deal for some, and with a seemingly never ending list, it is hard to make a definite choice. Has everyone given Firefox's previous attempts a chance? Definitely check out the newest version and see if it is on par with Dolphin Browser or Opera Browser. Let us know if it's better and if this new makeover was a good move. Market Link Which mobile browser is everyone rocking these days? Via: Mozilla

Another DROID Bionic Speed Test, Showing Off Its 4G LTE Capabilities

Tim — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:14:38 +0000

Possibly the cleanest snapshot of the DROID Bionic yet, showing off its super fast 4G LTE speeds. This latest picture was snapped by Yoda Man over at the Android Forums, and he doesn't mind giving us all a few little sneak peeks. No official word yet from Verizon, but we can only hope that we are not too far out. Anybody anxious for an announcement? We know this whole delay fiasco has a few people turned off, but we are hoping once all the promo goes out, that people will fall in love again. Sometimes we wonder what would happen if September 8th just came and passed with no release. Riots? What is the Bionic's top selling point in your minds? The 4G? 1 Gig of RAM? It's not the i*hone 5? Via: Android Forums Cheers Michael!

Phone To Be Released Overseas Running MIUI Stock - Entitled The 'MI-ONE'

Tim — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:17:42 +0000

MIUI is an amazing custom ROM choice for Android users, as it brings its own list of features to the table, just like CyanogenMod. Both are in different leagues of their own. Up on the MIUI website, they have pictures, and a full spec sheet of a phone that is going to be manufactured by an overseas company. The phone looks great, and we are hoping this is not a dream. Here is the full list of features as stated: Hardware: - Unlocked bootloader! - Android 2.3.5 pre-loaded (MIUI ROM) - Sharp capacitive 4 inch screen at 480 x 854 res 16:9 - Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S3 (MSM8260) - 4GB ROM - 1GB RAM - Up to 32GB Micro-SD card support - 8MP Rear Camera - Noise-cancelling microphone - 1930mAH battery! +30% on standard 1500mAH - GPS (U.S. GPS and Russian GLONASS;) - Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth connectivity - 266MHz Adreno220 GPU - 125 * 63 * 11.9 (mm) - GSM / WCDMA bands Other specs: - x3 Capacitive touch buttons (Menu, Desktop, Back key) - Side USB (micro) port - Volume button (side) - Powerbutton (side) - MI-Button (Customisable button for application of your choice) - 149g weight Accessories: - Interchangable back covers in variety of different colours. (currently 7 with more to follow) - Other “MI” Accessories to be launched such as phone stand. Price set: ￥1999 So we're looking at a 4 inch, 1.5 GHz processor, GSM/WCDMA, and an unlocked bootloader? Where do we sign up? With a price of around $300, that's not too bad. We would expect more just for the unlocked bootloader. If this phone comes to fruition, who would purchase just for nostalgia? Fingers crossed everybody! Via: MIUI

Steve "Cyanogen" Kondik Hired By Samsung As Software Engineer

Tim — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:51:26 +0000

Twitter blew up last night after the announcement through Steve Kondik's Facebook that he had joined the Samsung team. Steve is better know as "Cyanogen", and is the leader of the extremely popular custom ROM team, CyanogenMod. After the announcment, Steve assured his many followers that this will not be the end CM, and that it will now become a side project for him, while still maintaining a leadership role at CM. Android Guys was able to snag this quote:

...it's a job and I'm glad that I can use what I learned from all this to do something cool in the real world :) I'll still be doing code review and some leadership for CM, but I'll be keeping it legit like always...I think we really broke away from the modding community. Most of us are professional engineers or in the field some way or another.

We wish Steve the best of luck at Samsung, and also would like to wish the rest of the CM team luck. We would also like to give a shout out to Samsung for seeing the extreme talent these guys possess. Update: This tweet was just sent out by Sammy. Cheers Mark!

@SamsungMobileUS: There’s a new face at Samsung, AND HE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ANDROID DEVs IN THE WORLD! Learn about @cyanogen:http://smgm.us/Da7 Shared via TweetCaster

Via: Android Guys Cheers everyone who sent this in!

DROIDX Gingerbread Bug Fixer is Now Live!

Kellen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:11:22 +0000

The 11MB update for your DROIDX that should fix a bundle of bugs that were introduced through Gingerbread, is now available for all users. Head into Settings>About phone>System updates to grab it! The new build will take your phone to Blur version 4.5.602. Cheers Jigga_z and to everyone who sent this in!

Samsung Puts A Stop On TouchWiz Update For Galaxy Tab 10.1 to "Assess Progress"

Tim — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:53:22 +0000

If you have not yet updated your Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to the newest TouchWiz UX update that Samsung is pushing out, then we should suggest you hold off. It appears as though users are reporting some type of bug, and it must be a pretty legit problem if Samsung is going to halt the updating process. Most users are in favor of the update, but there has been talk of incredible lag from certain people after taking the update. Any owners of the tab here experiencing this? A Samsung rep tweeted to our friends at Android Police that the stop on the update was merely a means to "assess progress and ensure it is a positive experience for users." If there is something wrong with the update, Samsung has their lips shut. We'll keep you posted. Via: Android Police

FLUD News For Android, Because You Can Never Have Too Many News Readers

Tim — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:19:05 +0000

There is an excellent selection of news readers on the Android Market. FLUD is yet another awesome choice, proving that you can never have enough of a good thing. FLUD brings excellent integration with your Twitter, Google Reader account, and any RSS feed from the web. It has a beautiful UI, with an easy swipe through feed that is super easy to set up. Market Link

Features: - Access your own carefully chosen feeds, at any given time, in a beautiful and usable news interface - Search for RSS feeds of interest inside the application and add them with a single touch - Connect to Google Reader - Mark the article you "Love" and influence what other FLUD user will read on a minute-to-minute basis - View all articles you "Loved" on your Bookmarks page - Manage, reorder or remove feeds - Organize feeds into categories - Browse the web inside the app and play video seamlessly - Share articles of interest with you friends on Facebook and Twitter - E-mail articles to your friends from inside the application

Anyone thinking this could be better than Pulse, or even Taptu? Let us know what you think, and if you decide to stick with it, don't forget to subscribe to us on your news feed. To learn more about Flud, check out their website, here.

Monday Poll: What would make you the happiest from Google's acquisition of Motorola?

Tim — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:33:00 +0000

Probably some of the biggest news Android has had in a while is Google's announcement, the purchase of Motorola Mobility for 12.5 billion dollars. Many are speculating what we can look forward to, so we are asking what would make you more happy about this deal. Could we expect a Motorola Nexus device? Moto will unlock their bootloaders and play nice? Or is this the end of Blur as we know it? Let us know down below your true thoughts on Google's hefty purchase. We are still waiting to hear what Apple's thoughts are on all this. Maybe they're planning a retaliation under a bridge somewhere in Mountain View. [poll id="96"]

Dragon, Fly! Helping Baby Dragons Fly Has Never Felt Better

Tim — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:41:13 +0000

If you have ever heard of Tiny Wings, one of iOS's biggest names in the gaming category, then you will fall in love Dragon, Fly! You press the screen to help the dragon gain momentum and slide him from island to island. But be careful, mother dragon is hot on your tail (pun intended). It is full of whimsical sound effects and is actually quite the challenge, as it is constantly a different environment of mountains. Price tag could easily be a $1 with this game, but with a tag of free, there is definitely a good reason to give it a go. If you are looking to pass some time at the bus stop, or need a break from the office, then check it out. Do you guys like these types of 'cutesy' games, or does this cross the line? Market Link Cheers Dave!

Toshiba Thrive 8GB Honeycomb Tablet Only $370 On Amazon

Tim — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:03:26 +0000

Seems as though Honeycomb tablets are seeing price drops across the board recently. Many have said the Toshiba Thrive has been their go to tablet, putting it above the Motorola XOOM, and even the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 Tab. Let us point out again, that this is the 8 GB version, which might be a deal breaker for some people. With the second generation of these devices on the horizon, it is possible we can even see more price cuts. Which only means one thing, happier consumers. How does the Toshiba Thrive stack up in your eyes to other Honeycomb tablets that are available? Anybody thinking of picking one up? Buy Now Cheers Michael!

HTC Begins Unlocking Bootloaders, Starts With European HTC Sensation

Tim — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:15:44 +0000

Looks like HTC has become everyone's favorite manufacturer starting today. They have begun the unlocking process for their devices, beginning with the European Sensation. Looking at their site, it looks as though we can maybe expect the HTC Evo 3D on Sprint next, followed by the Sensation 4G for T-Mobile? No Verizon love yet? Guess we will have to show a bit more patience. HTC is being extremely clear in their disclaimers about warranty issues, and they want you to be safe:

You are about to start the process of unlocking your device. Unlocking your device allows you to install custom Operating Systems (“OS”) onto your device. Custom OS’s are not tested as thoroughly as your original OS, and unlocking your device may void all or parts of your warranty. HTC disclaims any and all liability for proper functioning of your device after the bootloader has been unlocked and for data lost in the unlocking process. To prevent unauthorized access to your data, unlocking the bootloader will delete all personal data from your device including applications, text messages and personalized settings.

This is the type of disclaimer that everyone who ever rooted their phone is aware of. No surprises here right? We are still on the lookout if unlocking your bootloader will put you on a list of "non-fixable" devices that Verizon might have. Hopefully, we are all just a wee bit paranoid and HTC is not ratting us out to Big Red. Why would they do that? Once you agree to these warnings and continue on, you must then check two boxes.

I acknowledge that use of the unlock bootloader may void all or parts of my warranty device and my device may not function as intended by HTC. I acknowledge that, if my device requires repairs, HTC may charge for additional costs due to the unlocked bootloader.

If you are okay with all this, then you simply just follow some instructions given, and you are all done. Good to go. Once the unlocking tool is available for Big Red devices, who is going to be first to use the procedure? I see Kellex raising his hand. Via: HTCDEV Cheers Mike!

DROID Incredible2 Running Gingerbread And Thunderbolt Receive S-Off, Thanks To Unrevoked

Tim — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:29:08 +0000

AlphaRev and Unrevoked have joined forces and are making it very easy to own an HTC device. For quite some time now, the Unrevoked team has been the way to go when rooting select HTC devices. Owners of the DROID Incredible2 running Gingerbread, and the HTC Thunderbolt can now enjoy full S-Off support, plus a much easier rooting process. We know that the Thunderbolt owners are getting sick and tired waiting for the Gingerbread update, so why not take it upon yourself? If you have been looking to root your Inc2, or Thunderbolt, now is the time. Feel free to head over to their site to get the full list of instructions. Be aware, you take the plunge at your own risk. We are pretty sure you won't regret it though. Via: Phandroid Cheers Pete, Zane!

Sanjay Jha Basically Predicted Earlier This Year That They Would Join a Software Company

Kellen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:50:59 +0000

All the talk in the tech world this morning has had to do with the acquisition of Motorola Mobility by Google, but after watching an interview from earlier in the year with Moto CEO Sanjay Jha, we are starting to think that someone should have predicted this. In a sit down with CNN, Jha talked about the mobile world "consolidating" down to just a few key players in the near future (Motorola included in that conversation). He also went on to say that he doesn't see the value to shareholders in a phone manufacturer acquiring another phone manufacturer, but does see it with a manufacturer joining a software company.

"I expect consolidation to occur. Our customers are consolidating, our suppliers are consolidating," Jha said. "Consolidation across software and hardware manufacturers create [the most] shareholder value."

He then mentioned Motorola specifically, but hoped that they would remain independent. However, after listening to his thoughts, you don't get the feeling that he was going to fight someone like Google tossing his company $12.5 billion. To hear this bit, jump to the 2:45 mark of this video: Via: Fortune

Samsung Celox with 4G LTE Makes Real World Appearance, Physical Button Removed

Kellen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:05:12 +0000

Last week, a 4G LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy S II called the "Celox" was rumored to be heading to a Korean carrier, leading many of us to believe that it could also be close to what we will see when (if) the phone lands on Verizon. The rumored specs are a 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus screen, 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM, dual cameras, and of course, that 4G LTE chip we want so badly in all phones. Renders of the phone that we had previously seen included a physical home button, but these real photos of the device definitely do not. I'd say that this could easily be our U.S. variant, since Samsung removed that same button back with the original Galaxy S series when it hit the states. Loving the look? Bionic, "Celox" or Vigor? Via: Ameblo, Kevin's Click Mobile

Motorola Updates DROID Bionic Letter, Working Hard to Ensure that it Meets Expectations

Kellen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:20:01 +0000

The "Coming Soon!" fact sheet page for the DROID Bionic on Motorola's site received a sneaky little update, some time over the last few days to echo the September statements made by their CEO, Sanjay Jha. This was the same page that was sneakily updated back in April when news broke that the original Bionic had been canned in favor of a new version. You won't find a specific release date or any juicy details that we haven't seen before, but it is pretty clear that they are pleased with the enhancements that have been made. And while this newly updated page still shows an April date, the content has been fully updated. Here it is in full:

Motorola Mobility delivered the original DROID in 2009, an award winning device and one of the most successful smartphones launched. The company followed with the DROID X, DROID 2 Global, and DROID PRO. We believe the DROID BIONIC will have those same award winning features and will be one of the best 4G LTE devices on the market. Motorola Mobility strives to deliver the best possible user experience with all of its devices. We are working to ensure that the DROID BIONIC meets the expectations of consumers who are awaiting its availability. In collaboration with Verizon Wireless, we are expecting to launch DROID BIONIC this September. We are very excited about the new enhancements that have been incorporated into our first 4G LTE smartphone since we first announced it at CES, and look forward to revealing more details as we get closer to launch.

I'm still doubting that we'll see any surprises, but does anyone else get the feeling that Motorola could potentially have something up their sleeves after reading this? They mention a focus on the user experience, excitement over enhancements, and the revealing of details as we get closer to launch. (Please Moto, surprise us!) Even an announcement that the battery will last 15 hours would make me happy. Oh, and that's one of the new cases that will be available for the Bionic. Found here. After all of this buzz and hypebeasting, is there any chance this phone can meet expectations? Cheers Dennis and Steve!

HTC Vigor Spotted on Dutch Phone Site, Specs and Possible Pic Included? (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:40:29 +0000

Update: Definitely a fake screenshot. And we know for sure since we have the actual first photos of the device here. The HTC Vigor may have made its first semi-public appearance today through a Dutch phone retailer site called The Phone House. As you can see in the picture above, the phone (although it could be a placeholder), looks a heck of a lot like a mash-up between the Sensation 4G and the Thunderbolt - the device it is rumored to be replacing. This site is also giving us a set of specs that match up exactly to what we reported on at the end of last week. The device could sport a 4.3" HD screen, Android 2.3.4, Sense 3.5, 8MP camera, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, and come pre-loaded with Beats by Dre technology. A true beast. Let's be honest though, there is also a chance that this image is fake since the page can no longer be accessed from The Phone House's site. Either it was removed, or someone just felt like using our reported specs to be an internet troll. What do you guys think of the look? And with HTC preparing to unlock bootloaders on a variety of devices, how can this not be on your list of next possible devices? Via: HTC Inside

DROID Incredible Gingerbread Update is Finally Ready, Device Jumping to 2.3.4

Kellen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:02:36 +0000

The HTC rep that told one of our readers that his DROID Incredible would not be receiving an update to Gingerbread (Android 2.3) was clearly mistaken. The update is now done and will likely be pushed to devices over the next few days. With support documents hitting Verizon's site as of this morning, it should be here in no time, peeps. Not a lot of major changes will come with the update, but with the phone jumping all the way up to Android 2.3.4, it will be faster and more stable than ever.

Oh, and no word still on the Thunderbolt. More info.

Initial Reaction and Thoughts on Google's Acquisition of Motorola

Kellen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:11:48 +0000

Talk about big news to start a week, right? With Google acquiring Motorola Mobility, a number of questions and thoughts immediately come to mind. We'll toss out ours and let you pick them apart, reflect on them, and then hopefully share your own. This is a major move by Google to help protect Android, but can it mean something more? The End of Blur? Seems odd that we're starting our thought process with an Android skin, but as we quickly gathered from the comments, many of you are certainly hoping that Moto's blue mess is done for good. I wouldn't go that far yet though. Andy Rubin and Larry Page were both very clear that they don't expect things to change all that much. Obviously, they would want to say that to continue to make all of their partners happy in the short-term, but they also clearly stated that Moto will be run as a separate company. So just because Google owns Motorola, doesn't mean that we'll see them quickly change all that has been built. In a year or so, maybe things will change - just don't expect Blur to die instantly. Carriers like differentiation, as does current Moto CEO Sanjay Jha. Unlocking of Bootloaders? Is this the move we needed to see happen to get Motorola to finally start unlocking bootloaders on their devices? Yeah, probably. Will it happen overnight? I would highly doubt it. Remember, Motorola still has to appeal to carriers and also protect consumers (hah!), so there is a chance that we won't see any movement on this front initially. What we can hope for though, is that Google puts a little pressure on this subject to get the ball rolling in the right direction - something Moto doesn't seem to want to do. With Google's approach to being "open", one would hope that they would look to replicate one of the devices that helped propel their mobile OS to incredibly heights, the original DROID. Next Nexus Device? In the tech back halls, we are all pretty sure that Samsung has landed the next Nexus device that will be out some time this winter. Could the Nexus following that be from Motorola, though? Absolutely. The thing to remember, is that they will have to compete with HTC, Samsung and LG just as they always have to grab that title. During today's press call, Rubin made sure that we all understood that they will conduct business as usual, including the selecting of their next Nexus handset maker. Supercharging Android? What exactly does this mean? That's still pretty unclear. However, we've seen how tight of an experience that Apple has with their iPhone since they produce both the software and hardware, so this should give Google a similar opportunity down the road. Again though, Android remains open and will be handed out to other handset makers just as it is now. We are only assuming that with a manufacturer under its wing, that Android can become that much more incredible, stable, innovative, and addictive. Patents. It's pretty obvious that this move is really about patents, legal jargon, and the never-ending battle with Apple,Microsoft and Oracle. Motorola has some 17,000 patents that blanket much of the mobile world - Google plans to use this portfolio to fully protect the future of Android. While we all want Moto to make the next Nexus, eliminate Blur, and unlock bootloaders, those ideas are all secondary to the legal battle that Android will be competing in for the foreseeable future. What about HTC, Samsung, and LG? All of these companies have already released quotes to show their support for this move. They all know that this helps their legal battles with Apple and Microsoft:

Talk about a crazy Monday morning. Now, your thoughts?

Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility Enabling Android to "Break New Ground" (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 05:45:22 +0000

Yep, you are reading that title correctly. Google is acquiring Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in a move that was clearly made because of Moto's massive patent portfolio. Both boards unanimously approved the decision - Google now looks to "supercharge" the Android operating system and enhance competition in the mobile space. Notes from conference all: Update 1: Most of the questions from media and investors on the call clearly has to do with patents and licensing - something Google or Motorola won't give many details about, but you can tell that they are very pleased with this partnership. Moto's some 17,000 patents greatly strengthens and helps protect Andr0id. Update 2: And just so you know, both Larry Page and Andy Rubin have already said multiple times that Android remains open. Rubin spoke with the top 5 manufacturers yesterday and made it very clear to all of them that nothing has changed. Motorola will operate as its own company and Android will remain open to use as it has been. The idea here is that it gives Google a chance to "supercharge" the OS. Update 3: You can view Larry Page's comments on the acquisition here. Update 4: Andy Rubin still expects the Nexus series to be a competition between manufacturers. Just because they own Motorola now, doesn't mean that every new Nexus device will be from Moto. They will have to compete along with HTC, Samsung, LG, etc. to put together a phone that Google would be proud to brand as a Nexus. Update 5: Call is over, Larry seems more-than-thrilled. As are we, Larry. Definitely developing...

Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility

Combination will Supercharge Android, Enhance Competition, and Offer Wonderful User Experiences
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. & LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. - Aug. 15, 2011 - Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of about $12.5 billion, a premium of 63% to the closing price of Motorola Mobility shares on Friday, August 12, 2011. The transaction was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. The acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business. Larry Page, CEO of Google, said, “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.” Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, “This transaction offers significant value for Motorola Mobility’s stockholders and provides compelling new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners around the world. We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses.” Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, said, “We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community. We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices.” The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US, the European Union and other jurisdictions, and the approval of Motorola Mobility’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012 Webcast Information Google and Motorola Mobility will hold a conference call with financial analysts to discuss this announcement today at 8:30am ET. The toll-free dial-in number for the call is 877-616-4476 (conference ID: 92149124). The call will also be webcast live athttp://investor.shareholder.com/media/eventdetail.cfm?eventid=101369&CompanyID=ABEA-3VZHGF&e=1&mediaKey=A21887C59EBAAC12F1BCF4D43C080953. The webcast version of the conference call will be available through the same link following the conference call. About Motorola Mobility Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE:MMI) 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.

Best Buy Planning Something Major for August 17 and 22, Any Guesses? (Updated)

Kellen — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:40:21 +0000

At first we were thinking that Best Buy planned to launch the Samsung Galaxy S II on August 17 and 22, but with Samsung already looking to make that announcement on August 29 in New York, we're no longer sure. The bad news for Verizon customers, is that neither of those days is a Thursday, so unless they break one of their longest release trends ever (Thursdays for new phones), then we'll probably be seeing something for another carrier. Any chance it's the iPhone 5? Hah, not likely. We're wondering if BBY simply plans to hold the ultimate cheap deal day, twice? Like say, make every phone free from any carrier? Possibly. Except we would almost expect that to be on two Wednesdays rather than a Monday and Wednesday. Update: We've heard from a number of Best Buy folks that are under the impression that this will just be one of their uber-cheap deal days. Four different phones could be available for free, would be the best bet. I guess we'll know in 2 days when they start letting their employees know why they have started over-staffing and changing schedules immediately. Intriguing. Any guesses? Cheers ___!

Motorola Prepares to Fix the DROIDX Gingerbread Bugfest, Soak Test Set to Begin

Kellen — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:08:48 +0000

DROIDX owners, your are about to be fixed. Well, your Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update that caused so many frustrating problems is. The Moto support group has started sending out invites to another "soak test" that we're assuming will be the massive bug fixer that you have all been impatiently waiting for.

Hello. First, I need to thank you for your participation and feedback in the Gingerbread update test we conducted in May. I can't begin to express how valuable the details provided have been. In the event that we have another update, are you interested in providing feedback? The project we're lining up will not be as involved as the one we conducted in May. It is confidential. If you are interested, please click here to take a short registration survey. Please respond as soon as possible if you want to take part as we are working against a short deadline. Regards, - Matt Motorola Feedback Network Motorola Owners' Forums

Clearly there aren't many details in that email, but what else could it be? Everyone ready (finally)? We've heard from a number of users that have jumped ship from the DX after having to wait for almost 3 months for this to be released. And maybe now the other devices like the DROID2, Pro and Global will feel some love? Cheers Scooby, Jigga_Z, R, M, and A!

Hulu Plus App Working On Devices That Were Once Unsupported?

Tim — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:59:11 +0000

We just received a friendly tweet from a reader, tipping us that the Hulu Plus application was not showing that annoying red popup which usually states that their device is not supported. Having a Nexus S on CM7, which is always rejected by the Hulu Plus app, I have never been able to play Hulu Plus videos from the application. I immediately opened Hulu Plus, and sure enough, no red popup. Anyone else that has been left in the cold by Hulu, we implore you to go check the app out, and let us know if you get the same results. If Hulu has decided to somehow turn off device checks, then maybe they are finally starting to see things our way. The open way. Market Link Cheers Chad917!

Motorola Photon 4G Bootloader Unlocked - Hoping This Means The Bionic Has A Chance

Tim — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 10:46:26 +0000

Huge news for Motorola fans today. The Photon 4G's bootloader has just been unlocked, and everyone is still celebrating. We are expecting not too many people here actually own a Photon (since we usually only cover Verizon related phones), but what this could possibly mean, is that the DROID3, and even the Bionic have a chance of an unlocking. All these devices are different, but we definitely have our fingers crossed. If you are interested in unlocking your Photon 4G, then head on over to XDA and try it out. If you are more interested in congratulating the developer who made this possible, give him a shout out on the thread. We need all the hard working developers we can get with an expected Bionic announcement sometime soon. If the Bionic was going to have an unlocked bootloader shortly after release, would you forget about all the other phones? XDA Thread Cheers Jigga_Z!

This Week In The Life Of DROID: 8/12/2011

Tim — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:43:26 +0000

As we creep into the middle of August, we are quickly coming upon the release and possible announcment of some certain devices people have been craving. The DROID Bionic, Samsung Galaxy SII, and the HTC Vigor have officially captured the attention of the people, and they will stop at nothing to find everything then can about these devices. Here is hoping that soon, Verizon will finally come forward and let us all in on what the heck is going on over there.

If you are ever looking for a good place to check out all the latest headlines from the past few weeks, check out our "Weekly Recap" tag. Have a wonderful and safe weekend everybody. I need to go take care of my new family member.

Friday Poll: How Many Hours In A Week Do You Play Games On Your Android Device?

Tim — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:49:12 +0000

We are definitely some gaming addicts over here. You can always find Kellex playing Fieldrunners HD, or myself playing some type of zombie kill 'em all type of game. We were curious if everyone else is constantly checking the Market for the next big thing. It's easy to watch time fly by when you have a great game in your hands. I have easily spent 6+ hours playing one game in a day, so I am sure there must be people just like us here. [poll id="95"] Now that we have all your answers, tell us what your favorite games are. We would hate to be missing out on something great!

HTC Bliss Spotted At FCC, Heading To Verizon

Tim — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:38:12 +0000

Verizon looks to be scooping up the HTC Bliss, model number PI46110, as it just passed through the FCC rocking CDMA 850MHz/1900MHz bands. HTC's Bliss is being tagged as a "Women Only" smartphone, so it looks like we have the second coming of the DROID Eris maybe (kidding!)? The phone might also hold worldwide capabilities as well, with a GSM 900MHz radio inside, so it is definitely nothing to scoff at. Thanks to Verizon's leaked Road Map, we should be seeing the HTC Bliss around September 29th, and it will sport Gingerbread. Any ladies or gents out there that might be picking this up? Via: Engadget

Google Videos Hacked, Allows Rooted Users To Stream Movies

Tim — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:52:13 +0000

We had a couple people asking yesterday, if the Google Videos update allowed for rooted users to stream movies yet. Answer is of course, "no". Well, here is some good news for you. There is now a modded version which disables the root check and allows rooted users to enjoy streaming movies to their rooted devices. Sweet smell of victory. The developers over at SDX have been hard at work, so we can now watch our highly priced movie rentals on rooted phones, running Android 2.2+ and above. Simply uninstall the current Google Videos from your phone, and re-install this one. Please note - This is not the updated apk from yesterday, but should work just fine on Froyo and Gingerbread devices, and even reported to work on all Honeycomb tablets. Expect an updated apk version sometime soon. In the meantime, enjoy some flicks this weekend. Download Link Via: SDX Cheers Stephen!

Acer A100 Available Today in the U.S. as the First 7" Honeycomb Tablet

Kellen — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:28:35 +0000

The Acer A100, the industry's first 7" Honeycomb tablet, will go on sale today at retail stores across the nation for around $329 (8GB). It'll run Android 3.2 (since that has been built for smaller tablets), an NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, dual-cameras, and weighs just 0.92lbs. If you ever needed an inexpensive tablet to travel with, play games on, or stay connected while couch surfing, this might be a great option. We should probably point out that the battery life won't be stellar though. According to the press release below, it will see up to 5 hours of steady use, which is not impressing anyone. Can't deny the size and specs - anyone interested?

Acer Iconia Tab A100 Now Available in North America: Industry's First 7-inch Android Honeycomb Tablet
Acer America expands its Acer Iconia™ Tab line of tablets with its first 7-inch tablet – and the industry’s first 7-inch tablet running Android™ 3.2 (Honeycomb) – in the United States and Canada. The new Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 features an incredibly portable sub-one pound design, a vibrant 7-inch multi-touch display, and a sleek, thin design that is comfortable to use and take virtually anywhere. With the Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 tablet, customers can have a single portable device for enjoying entertainment such as games and websites as well as productivity applications such as a calendar and email. The tablet comes pre-installed with Adobe Flash Player 10.3, so Adobe Flash games and websites can be enjoyed right out of the box. In addition, the WiFi device is the ideal size for moms, families and individuals who want to stay entertained and productive, since the screen is large enough to enjoy video and other multimedia, yet the device is portable enough for comfortable single-handed use. Weighing in at a mere 0.92 pounds and measuring only a half-inch thick, the Acer Iconia™ Tab A100’s super-portable size makes it easy to take anywhere. The vibrant 7-inch TFT WSVGA screen displays social networking sites, photos and more in 1024x600 resolution and high-color contrast, so customers can enjoy crisp, vibrant content enhanced by a 16:10 aspect ratio and 75-degree wide viewing angle. Plus, the 7-inch capacitive touch-screen is incredibly responsive and accurate for convenient finger-tip control. “The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 tablet delivers the ultimate combination of portability and performance for fun and gaming as well as staying in touch,” said Sumit Agnihotry, vice president of product marketing, Acer America. “Families are spending more time social networking and enjoying web-based digital media, so a highly portable tablet like the Acer A100 will let them get more done and stay connected on-the-go to enjoy their lives more fully.” Ultimate Companion for Mobile Moms and Families The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 is the ultimate companion for mobile consumers such as moms and families who want a single device for gaming, fun, entertainment and staying in touch on the go. Customers can enjoy movies right out of the box with the Google® Movies app that allows users to rent and play movies on the Acer A100. Also, Google® Music gives customers instant access to their personal music collection on the web without the hassle of wires or syncing. Customers can also use NemoPlayer® for video, photos and music and Aupeo! for enjoying online radio. Dolby® Mobile Technology on the tablet delivers dynamic sound to enhance the enjoyment of music and movies. In addition, the Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 can be connected to a TV via its HDMI port, so customers can share full HD videos in 1080p resolution. Game play can also be extended to a big screen TV or display with the Acer A100’s HDMI port and dual-display support. As a result, more people can watch and enjoy the game as it is mirrored to the larger screen. Plus, the Acer A100 can be used as a controller for the game as the player watches the image on the larger display. In addition, games are crisp, fast and realistic thanks to the performance technology and six-axis motion sensing gyro meter. Customers can enjoy rich and exciting Adobe-flash based Web pages, games, videos and animations with Adobe Flash Player 10.3. Thousands of additional apps can be easily downloaded from the Android Marketplace. Save Memories, Shop Better, Stay Connected with Cameras The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 allows customers to always be ready to take photos and video on-the-go and quickly share them by email and on social media sites. Lighter than most SLR cameras, the Acer A100 has a 5MP rear-facing camera with flash, so families will know they have a great camera with them to capture all of life’s fun and unexpected moments. It also records clear and detailed HD Video at 720p at 30 frames per second. Plus, the rear-facing camera can be used with many available apps to read bar-codes and QR codes for shopping and other promotions. The tablet also has a 2MP fixed-focused front-facing camera and webcam for video chats. Reading and Productivity Apps Let Moms and Families Get More Done The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 e-reading functionality will be appreciated by a range of family members. Moms and dads can download e-books to enjoy during quiet moments in comfortable single-handed usage. The tablet comes pre-installed with Google® Books eReading app for enjoying e-books. Plus, the color screen vibrantly displays children’s e-books, so they’ll always have something to enjoy during long or unexpected waits. Extra features like the realistic page turn effect make reading even more fun. The auto-rotation allows customers to enjoy e-books, games, movies and more in either landscape or portrait mode. In addition, everyone can stay up-to-date with extended family and friends via Acer’s Social Jogger, which puts Facebook® and Twitter® in one place for quick and easy reading and updates. Moms can keep their family schedule organized with the easy-to-use Acer “Day Planner” application that gives an easy-to-view list of upcoming activities. Working moms and those with busy schedules will appreciate that the Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 helps them stay productive. Customers can set up multiple email addresses and view Microsoft® Office documents using the trial version of the “Docs to Go” app for getting things done quickly. Android 3.2 Brings Additional Benefits for Browsing and Entertainment The Acer A100 comes installed with Android 3.2, the latest version of Honeycomb to give customers the latest in advanced mobile browsing. Customers can browse the Internet with speed and ease, even web pages built with Flash, thanks to Adobe Flash 10.3 that comes pre-loaded on the Acer A100 tablet. In addition, Android 3.2 lets customers have more control over their entire browsing experience, such as managing web pages by tabs, more advanced privacy settings, and proper sizing of apps and web pages for the 7-inch display. Connectivity to WiFi and Other Devices The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 can quickly and easily connect to Wi-Fi networks via the integrated Acer InviLink Nplify 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED wireless technology to access the Internet, the Android marketplace for apps and more. Customers can enjoy their own digital content on the Acer A100 tablet by transferring files such as videos, movies and eBooks to it through the tablet’s micro-USB port or by using the Micro-SD card reader that can read Micro-SD cards with a capacity up to 32GB.Plus, the integrated Bluetooth allows consumers to connect the tablet to a variety of other devices, such as headsets and keyboards. High-Performance for Maximum Enjoyment The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 packs maximum performance into its incredibly portable size. It uses a high-performance NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM to give customers blazing fast access to multiple programs and apps at once. The Ultra Low Power GeForce® GPU enhances gaming, web, and multimedia for a more realistic, responsive experience. The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 provides solid uptime with a 1530 mAh Li-polymer battery for up to five hours during Internet browsing with WiFi, up to four hours during web-streamed video and up to 4.5 hours during 720p video playback.(1) Sharing Digital Media is Easy with clear.fi Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 comes with Acer clear.fi, which connects with any other DLNA-compliant device to quickly and easily share and enjoy digital media. It automatically detects clear-fi-enabled devices on the wireless home network (smartphones, notebooks, HD media players, etc.) and gathers and organizes media files by type (video, music, photo, pre-recorded TV). Priced Starting at only $329.99 The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100 is available in the U.S. now at national retail stores and will be available in Canada next month. The Acer Iconia™ Tab A100-07u16u with 16GB of memory(2) has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $349.99 U.S and $399.99 CAD, while the Acer Iconia™ Tab A100-07u08u with 8GB of memory(2) has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $329.99 U.S. and $349.99 CAD. About Acer Since its founding in 1976, Acer has achieved the goal of breaking the barriers between people and technology. Globally, Acer ranks No. 2 for total PCs and notebooks.(3) A profitable and sustainable Channel Business Model is instrumental to the company's continuing growth, while its multi-brand approach effectively integrates Acer, Gateway, Packard Bell, and eMachines brands in worldwide markets. Acer strives to design environmentally friendly products and establish a green supply chain through collaboration with suppliers. Acer is proud to be a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Movement, including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and London 2012 Olympic Games. The Acer Group employs 8,000 people worldwide. Revenues for 2010 reached US$19.9 billion. See www.acer-group.com for more information.

Massive Samsung Roadmap From Yesterday is More Than Likely Fake

Kellen — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:45:30 +0000

Well, the supposed leaked Samsung roadmap from yesterday that featured the next Nexus, appears to be a bunch of made up garbage. Sammie took to their global blog late in the evening to make sure we all knew that they have plans for the future, but that the details we all drooled over "are not accurate":

Some media have been reporting that Samsung is preparing to launch nine new smartphones and two new tablet devices. While Samsung is continuously working on new devices for our customers, the details being cited are not accurate in this case. We appreciate the interest in our upcoming mobile devices and will share more information once its available.

We are still pretty sure that Samsung has landed the rights to have the next Nexus device, but the details are still completely up in the air. Was fun to chat about it for a day or so though, wasn't it? Via: Androinica

DROID Bionic Makes Its Way Into Verizon Store, Lucky Chap Snaps Pics

Kellen — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:56:13 +0000

This might be the week to finally head into a Verizon store to ask about the DROID Bionic, if the story behind these pictures is true. Word on the street has it that a Motorola rep walked into one of Big Red's retail outlets yesterday with DB in hand and was more than willing to allow folks in the area to snap pictures of it and send them off to friends. We get a nice look at the device in a real hand, along with a semi-side look and the Moto dock. I must say, that the device definitely does not look too thick by any means. It looks enormous in this young lady's hands, but...well whatever I was about to say could only sound dirty, so I'll stop there. Moto and Verizon may want to think about crankin' this bad boy out a little earlier than September 8 though, because Samsung announced their Galaxy S II event for August 29 and rumors are swirling today that Apple may announce the iPhone 5 on September 7. Time may be running out for Moto on this one... Backside of the device:

Moto dock:

Via: Howard Forums Cheers to everyone who sent these in!

Samsung's U.S. Galaxy S II Plans to be Announced August 29 in NYC?

Kellen — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:34:11 +0000

After looking at this press invite that Samsung just sent out for an evening event they have planned at the end of the month on August 29, I'd say we are finally going to hear what they have in mind for the Galaxy S II here in the states. We're guessing of course, since the invite doesn't specifically say that, but the massive Roman numeral "II" certainly would suggest such things. Everyone ready?

Verizon Possibly Expanding Their Prepaid Markets Outside Of Florida And California?

Tim — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:58:31 +0000

Verizon is not the hugest name in the business of prepaid phone service, and there is not much need for them to be. Unless, they happen to be losing prepaid business to the competition. Verizon's number of prepaid subscribers took a small dip recently, while Sprint's and MetroPCS's boosted. Big Red is now deciding on whether or not to expand their $50 unlimited everything markets to more than just Florida and California. Verizon's CFO reports that the prepaid program was extremely successful for Big Red, and were even able to steal some of the market from the competition. It shows that people want Verizon, but possibly just can't afford their expensive 2 year plans. Prepaid seems like a fine path for Verizon to take, as long as people do not mind paying full price for their devices. If Verizon was offering a no contract, $50 unlimited voice, text, and web in your state, would you sign yourself up and prepare to pay list on new devices? You would have the benefit of not worrying about upgrades and all that nonsense, but being in a contract has its benefits too. Via: Android Guys, WSJ

Thought You Escaped Farmville Invites By Switching From Facebook To Google+? Think Again

Tim — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:07:04 +0000

Google+ is bringing games to the mix. As soon as you are done cursing, and hoping that there is no such thing as "invites" to these games, then we will let you know what to expect. From what their press release is stating, hiding the games and all the junk info that comes with them, is made super easy in Google+. If you do not want to see anything about games, just say so. But once you click on the games tab, then be prepared for a mighty barrage of invites and info about all your loved one's gaming.

When you’re ready to play, the Games page is waiting—click the games button at the top of your stream. You can see the latest game updates from your circles, browse the invites you’ve received and check out games that people you know have played recently. The Games page is also where your game accomplishments will appear. So you can comfortably share your latest high score—your circles will only see the updates when they’re interested in playing games too. If you’re not interested in games, it’s easy to ignore them. Your stream will remain focused on conversations with the people you care about.

Google has some great titles for the launch. Angry Birds, Bejeweled, Dragons of Atlantis, Zynga Poker, and plenty more. What is even more surprising is the lack of Farmville references in their press release. But do not worry, we are sure that it will come soon. Rejoice, or run for the hills? Via: Google Blog

Leaked: First Shots Of Ice Cream Sandwich?

Tim — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:28:04 +0000

Our good friends over at Android Police, and Rootz Wiki have the first shots of Ice Cream Sandwich, running on a Nexus S. Before anyone gets curious, we are assuming that the Android developers over at Google do not have the mass produced hardware to test ICS yet, so we are hoping that they are just testing this on a Nexus device. Whether they are real or not, have an open mind and try to get excited for some Ice Cream. Android Police has full confidence in their source, so let's get pumped that someone at Google loves blogs enough to leak it. So what do you all think? Real? Themed, and build.prop edited? Full ICS Gallery: [gallery columns="4"] Via: Android Police, Rootz Wiki Cheers Birdman!

NFL Fantasy Football App Now Available On Android Market

Tim — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:06:00 +0000

Any huge football fans here? The NFL has just pumped out their fantasy football application to the Android Market, and so far, it does not look half bad. Last year, some people said it was pretty awful, but a quick peek at the Market comments shows that their developers might have done it right this year. Especially since it is free. Go grab it and let us know what you think. Aren't we all glad there is no lockout happening?

Market Link

Cheers Tom!

Google Videos Updated, Now Supports Playback On Froyo And Gingerbread Devices

Tim — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:28:43 +0000

Head on over to the Market, and update your Google Videos application. Besides a couple bug fixes, the new main feature is support for Froyo, and Gingerbread handsets. We will stick by our opinion that $2.99+ to rent a movie for 24 hours is completely ridiculous, but to each his own. Speaking of which, we have a few people over on our Twitter, claiming that their Thunderbolts are getting the new Market pushed to them? Anyone else getting it on their devices? Market Link Cheers ___!

Samsung Road Map Leaked, Ice Cream Sandwich Device With 4.65" Screen? Yes, Please

Tim — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:44:02 +0000

The folks over at Slash Gear snagged a good one today, and have a possible leaked Samsung Road Map. Much like the Verizon Map that leaked just a little while ago, this Samsung info reveals future devices, including their specifications. If these pan out, we think everyone will have found the upgrades they have been searching for. There are a few devices shown, so we will take it one at a time. The Samsung GT-I9250, 1280x720 resolution on a 4.65 inch screen running Ice Cream Sandwich. The only other tidbit of info shown is that the device will also have a 5MP camera. Might come as a shock, but as far as we have seen, we will not judge a book by its megapixels. This device, will most likely be a beast, so plan on some quality hypebeastin' to take place. The next device is the Samsung GT-I9220. Your pockets will explode after trying to fit this 5.29" screen inside, and it will come running Gingerbread off the factory floor. But don't worry, this handset is leaving competition in the dust with its 1.4GHz processor, Super AMOLED Plus display, and 8 megapixel camera. The leaked map went into greatest detail for the following device. The Samsung GT-I9210 is a 4G, 4.5" screen, 8MP camera work horse. The grain that will feed the horse is a beefy 1750 mAH battery, and it will also include a 2MP front facing camera. These sound like devices that people want to hear about! So what are your thoughts? Any of these new handsets sound like something you wouldn't mind showing off to coworkers or even complete strangers? As always, as soon as we hear more about these fantastic sounding devices, we will report it right here. Via: Android and Me, Slash Gear

Self-Charging Smartphones? Possible Thanks To UCLA's Photovoltaic Polarizers

Tim — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:04:09 +0000

Researchers at UCLA, are looking into ways to have your smartphone never die. Could you even imagine an HTC Thunderbolt that lasts longer than 6 hours? Well, a new recycling LCD technology, that if brought to the market would recharge its own battery. We all know that the screen takes the most out of our batteries (unless you have a 4G device wink wink), so if they can somehow use the huge drain to recharge itself, then that is complete winning. An added bonus to this technology, is that you would also be able to use the never-ending power of the sun to charge your phone as well. Just the way it should be. The team at UCLA states that 80-90% of a phone's power is lost to the screen itself, so while using their "polarizing organic photovoltaic cells", the device will recycle all energy that the screen burns off. If they are able to get this technology onto devices, who is picking it up? Solar powered phones should have been out years ago for mass consumption, but we are guessing that the battery lobbyists could not allow that. Full Press Release:

Phone losing charge? Technology created by UCLA engineers allows LCDs to recycle energy With photovoltaic polarizers, devices could be powered by sunlight, own backlight We've all worried about the charge on our smartphone or laptop running down when we have no access to an electrical outlet. But new technology developed by researchers at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science could finally help solve the problem. The UCLA engineers have created a novel concept for harvesting and recycling energy for electronic devices - one that involves equipping these devices' LCD screens with built-in photovoltaic polarizers, allowing them to convert ambient light, sunlight and their own backlight into electricity. LCDs, or liquid crystal displays, are used in many of today's electronic devices, including smartphones, TV screens, computer monitors, laptops and tablet computers. They work by using two polarized sheets that let only a certain amount of a device's backlight pass through. Tiny liquid crystal molecules are sandwiched between the two polarizers, and these crystals can be switched by tiny transistors to act as light valves. Manipulating each light valve, or pixel, lets a certain amount of the backlight escape; millions of pixels are combined to create images on LCDs. The UCLA Engineering team created a new type of energy-harvesting polarizer for LCDs called a polarizing organic photovoltaic, which can potentially boost the function of an LCD by working simultaneously as a polarizer, a photovoltaic device and an ambient light or sunlight photovoltaic panel. Their research findings are currently available in the online edition of the journal Advanced Materials and will be published in a forthcoming print issue of the journal. "I believe this is a game-changer invention to improve the efficiency of LCD displays," said Yang Yang, a professor of materials science at UCLA Engineering and principal investigator on the research. "In addition, these polarizers can also be used as regular solar cells to harvest indoor or outdoor light. So next time you are on the beach, you could charge your iPhone via sunlight." From the point of view of energy use, current LCD polarizers are inefficient, the researchers said. A device's backlight can consume 80 to 90 percent of the device's power. But as much as 75 percent of the light generated is lost through the polarizers. A polarizing organic photovoltaic LCD could recover much of that unused energy. "In the near future, we would like to increase the efficiency of the polarizing organic photovoltaics, and eventually we hope to work with electronic manufacturers to integrate our technology into real products", Yang said. "We hope this energy-saving LCD will become a mainstream technology in displays." "Our coating method is simple, and it can be applied in the future in large-area manufacturing processes," said Rui Zhu, a postdoctoral researcher at UCLA Engineering and the paper's lead author. "The polarizing organic photovoltaic cell demonstrated by Professor Yang's research group can potentially harvest 75 percent of the wasted photons from LCD backlight and turn them back into electricity," said Youssry Boutros, program director for the Intel Labs Academic Research Office, which supported the research. "The strong collaboration between this group at UCLA Engineering and other top groups has led to higher cell efficiencies, increasing the potential for harvesting energy. This approach is interesting in its own right and at the same time synergetic with several other projects we are funding through the Intel Labs Academic Research Office." Ankit Kumar, a materials science and engineering graduate student at UCLA Engineering was the paper's second author. Yang, who holds UCLA's Carol and Lawrence E. Tannas Jr. Endowed Chair in Engineering, is also faculty director of the Nano Renewable Energy Center at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA. The research was supported by Intel through a gift to UCLA, and by the Office of Naval Research.

Via: Engadget

Both HTC Vigor and LG Revolution 2 Could Sport HD Screens, Stratosphere Not the Galaxy S2?

Kellen — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:18:01 +0000

According to our sources, builds of the HTC Vigor and LG Revolution 2 are starting to pop up in the wild - we received potential specs for both of them, which we're pretty sure you'll be pleased with. From the sounds of it, HD screens are going to be the "it" thing this holiday season - assuming of course that both of them make it to stores. We'll start first with the Vigor since it seems to be the hottest rumored phone on the planet these days. According to our guy, the device will indeed have a 4.3" 720p HD screen (1280x720 resolution), with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 8MP rear cam, 2MP front, Android 2.3.4 and a brand new version of Sense which he called "3.5." The device will be similar in size and shape to the Thunderbolt, but without the kickstand. And if you were wondering, this will be a Beats by Dre device. We're hearing that it has a Beats logo as part of the bootup sequence, but other than that, it was tough to tell what else HTC had done to integrate their audio technology. Now onto the Revolution 2, which may surprise you. Apparently this device has a 4.5" HD screen, is incredibly thin (possibly thinner than both the Vigor and iPhone 4), and will run on Verizon's 4G LTE network. No other specs were given at this time, but the device sounds like it's in very early stages of development. We were also told that Stratosphere is more than likely not the SGS2 and will instead be that slider that we saw a month or so ago that mimicked the Epic 4G. It's definitely looking like it'll be launched on the same day as the Bionic though - September 8. Any thoughts come to mind? Take this as rumor for now until we get either pictures or closer to a release date for all of these. The end of 2011 is certainly looking like it'll be exciting though, especially since we heard that the leaked roadmap from last week is pretty spot on. Cheers ___!

Best Buy Announces 20% Off Purchase Of Beats Headphones, When Buying An HTC Phone

Tim — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:44:19 +0000

HTC just ended their highly hyped teleconference. They have officially announced their partnership with Beats By Dre, and now own 51% of the brand. It was not completely clear last night whether they would be offering free Beats when buying an HTC phone, or what exactly the deal meant for consumers. As of today, we now know that the deal will bring Beats audio processors into HTC handsets, and will be completely integrated. Sorry for everyone hoping to snag a free set of Beats. In other news, Best Buy announced that if you buy an HTC phone this weekend, they will give you 20% off a pair of Beats. So if you're looking to have a very expensive weekend at Best Buy, go ahead and take them up on that offer. We know a lot of audiophiles do not see eye to eye on Beats, but we think this is a pretty sweet partnership. Anyone looking forward to the new Fall/Winter lineup of HTC devices? Via: Phandroid

KORE Could Just be the Name of Motorola's New Fitness Line

Kellen — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 09:00:01 +0000

Motorola may be looking for a spicy new global brand name for their next wave of phones, but we're pretty sure now that it won't be KORE. The name first caught our eye when it was used in a variety of domains that Moto had purchased, leading many to believe that it could be their next tablet (quad-core + kal-el = kore). We then speculated after listening to CEO Sanjay Jha that it could be the brand name that we'd see attached to their non-U.S. phones around the world - something to help recognize their line of phones, similarly to the way Samsung does with Galaxy. Well, so much for that. The folks over at Fusible noticed a trademark filing this week that suggests it will be attached to a fitness line of products. As you can see below, there is no mention of a phone anywhere:

“ELECTRONIC NON MEDICAL PORTABLE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MONITOR AND FITNESS DEVICE FOR MEASURING MOVEMENTS, INDIVIDUAL’S ENERGY EXPENDITURE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL AND ACCESSORIES THEREFORE, NAMELY, HEADPHONES; SOFTWARE FOR DEVELOPING AND MONITORING PERSONAL ACTIVITY AND EXERCISE PLANS, TRAINING PLANS, TRAINING GOALS AND GIVING FEEDBACK ON THE ACHIEVED RESULTS”

We're thinking if anything, KORE will be the name of the new Moto watch we have seen a couple of times. A "fitness device for measuring movements" matches the device that is pictured above. Oh, well. Via: Fusible

Thursday Poll: What Does HTC's Partnership With Beats by Dre Mean to You?

Kellen — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:20:45 +0000

The new partnership between HTC and Beats Electronics just seems like such a fun gathering of two of today's most popular tech companies. Beats by Dre headphones have this massive following with the youth, and HTC's phones are selling in record numbers almost every quarter. With these two aligning themselves, the level of media and audio combined on a smartphone won't be equaled by anyone else, and that should get you excited. Whether you think Beats headphones are of the highest quality or not, you should be at least a little thrilled that a company of HTC's magnitude is looking to upgrade the audio of their handsets - something we hope catches on with other handset makers. Clearly we're excited about this deal, but what are your thoughts? You ready to see a Beats logo at bootup? (Something the Vigor should have) Are you now hoping that other audio companies come forward and look to form partnerships with another phone manufacturer, like say Samsung? Let us know!

HTC and Beats by Dre Make It Really Official with Video Promo, Integrated Devices Coming This Fall

Kellen — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:40:22 +0000

HTC took us through a bit of a whirlwind yesterday when they announced that they would be making a "major" announcement this morning, followed by rumors that that announcement would end up having to do with their partnership with Beats by Dre. It all quickly became official after the Beats crew dropped us a line through Tumblr, but now it's 100% on thanks to the press release from HTC and this sweet promo video. While we're not going to give them a thumbs up for going with the Black Eyed Peas in this spot, we will give them props for making one heck of an Android partnership that should help propel this platform that we love even further. No other phone manufacturer on the planet has anything even close to this. Oh, we should also point out that the two companies have been working together behind the scenes for some time and are planning to release their first Beats integrated devices this fall. HTC Vigor with Beats anyone? Sign me up. Video and presser after the jump.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5uqvcrmJCQ[/youtube]

HTC AND BEATS BY DR. DRE SET TO INTRODUCE NEW ERA IN MOBILE AUDIO

Strategic HTC investment to result in Beats integrated HTC phones this Fall
Taoyuan, Taiwan & Santa Monica, CA – August 11, 2011 – HTC Corporation, a global designer of mobile devices, today announced a strategic partnership and investment with Beats™ Electronics LLC, the company redefining the audio market with its iconic Beats by Dr. Dre™ audio experience. The two fast-growing brands will focus on bringing high performance sound to HTC phones. “The HTC and Beats by Dr. Dre partnership is an opportunity for two world-class companies to redefine the smart phone industry and define the future,” said Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Beats by Dr. Dre and Chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M Records which is a division of Universal Music Group and a stakeholder in Beats. “For Beats by Dr. Dre, this represents a critical step in our continued mission to clean up the destruction of audio caused by the digital revolution; and reengineer how sound is delivered so that the consumer feels the music the way that the artist intended.” HTC® and Beats™ have been working together to create superior mobile audio experiences for consumers, which will result in a line of HTC devices integrated with Beats sound innovations, available this fall. “Beats has found a unique way to harness popular culture in a manner that is unlike any other brand today,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “It’s an exciting brand that has been built around providing something very special, and we believe our strategic partnership will provide customers with unbeatable sound on HTC phones. We obsess over every detail of a consumer’s mobile experience and audio is a critical part of that experience.” HTC is known for unifying content, services and devices into unique mobile experiences. And Beats is known for its unique consumer brand appeal and ability to reproduce the full spectrum of sound captured in professional recording studios, allowing consumers to hear music the way the artist intended. Bringing these two great brands together will create superior mobile music and sound experiences, while accelerating HTC’s entry into the youth and accessories markets globally. Beats Electronics will continue to operate autonomously with Iovine as Chairman and Luke Wood as President & COO with its current business partnerships that include Monster Cable Products Inc., Hewlett-Packard and Chrysler Group LLC. Iovine will also continue serving as Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records. “Our customers have clearly responded to Beats and HTC, and Best Buy is proud to feature their products in our stores,” said Brian J. Dunn, CEO, Best Buy. “We are committed to offering innovative and entertaining technologies that help consumers enhance their lives. Our customers expect that from us. The unique HTC Sense experience and the great sound of Beats provide prime examples of that focus.” About Beats Electronics LLC Established in 2006, Beats Electronics is the brainchild of legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records Jimmy Iovine, who set out to develop a new type of headphone with the capability to reproduce the full spectrum of sound that musical artists and producers hear in professional recording studios. For more information, please visithttp://beatsbydre.com. About HTC HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

And that HTC Announcement for Tomorrow, More than Likely Their Acquisition of Beats by Dre (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:00:24 +0000

HTC is expected to announce something fairly big tomorrow, but up until the last hour or so, no one had a clue as to what it could be and was simply guessing. Well, according to a couple of reports now, they could reveal their new acquisition/partnership with Beats Electronics - a company many of you know as Beats by Dre. There is no telling how they plan to incorporate their reported 51% share into their phones, however, most of us would assume their products will either be branded as "Beats Equipped" or come with a set of headphones. We tweeted the rumor an hour or so ago and have seen some pretty mixed reactions from readers. All I can say, is that this type of acquisition/partnership has the potential to make HTC phones sell at an even greater pace and quickly bring them into the public eye. Whether you think Beats by Dre headphones sound good or not, the fact that the brand is so recognizable these days with the youth is what makes this a big deal. Update: The Beats crew just made it official on their Tumblr....

Dear Beats Army: Today marks an incredible day for sound and Beats by Dr. Dre. We are announcing a partnership with HTC, one of the world’s leading wireless manufacturers. With this announcement, our two brands are coming together to redefine the smart phone category and redefine the way that sound is heard. Over the past year, Beats by Dr. Dre has continued to evolve from a headphone company to a cultural movement that is redefining the way sound is heard. We have strived to take studio-quality music into the hands of you, our consumers, across the globe. This partnership with HTC represents the next phase of our vision, placing the utmost importance on giving smart phone fans the opportunity to hear the highest-quality of sound possible. The Beats team, still led by Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine, will continue to manage Beats autonomously. There will be a lot more exciting news to come and we will continue to keep you on top of all of the wonderful things happening within the Beats World. This is truly an incredible chapter for Beats and we are proud to have you with us. Let’s Go! THE BEATS TEAM

More coverage at CNET and AllThingsD. Cheers 0mie!

HTC has a "Major Announcement" to Make Tomorrow, Any Guesses?

Kellen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:48:07 +0000

What could HTC possibly have planned for tomorrow? That is anyone's guess, but their plan is to have CEO Peter Chou jump in front of a mic and let the world know that something is about to go down. Could we expect NFC chip talk? New HD screen technology (HTC Vigor)? Locked bootloader progress or additional details? Something Ice Cream Sandwich? Maybe their new Puccini Honeycomb tablet? Or perhaps they just want to publicly pimp slap Apple for acting like a spoiled 3rd grader? Thoughts?

TeamSpeak BETA Available On Android Market

Tim — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:06:30 +0000

If anyone here is an avid TeamSpeak user, then you will be delighted to hear that TeamSpeak has just released their Android app to the Market. For those who do not know, TeamSpeak is software that allows for groups of people to talk to each other, and share files over the internet in real time. It is very popular among the MMORPG crowds, and has many other excellent uses. Features:

Local bookmarks
Multi-server connectivity
Push-To-Talk (PTT) and voice activation
Identity management
Channel and player information
Player status notifications

It is free in the Android Market as long as it is in BETA, so hurry on over and grab it. Market Link Here's the official TeamSpeak 3 promo video: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPT5wMQ-KKA[/youtube] Via: TeamSpeak Cheers Dave Kover!

HTC Rep: DROID Incredible No Longer Receiving Gingerbread

Kellen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:32:52 +0000

Uh oh, a storm may be brewin'. One of our readers reached out to HTC to check on the status of the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update for the DROID Incredible that we have been told was coming time and time again, and received some pretty striking news. The original Inc is no longer on their list of "certain phones" that will receive 2.3? I seriously hope this is one big mistake. The odd thing here, is that test builds have been floating around in the wild for quite some time now, so why pull the plug? According to this rep, this update will not improve the user experience, features, performance and usability of the Incredible.

Dear XXXXXXXXXX, Thank you for taking the time to contact HTC in regards to Operating System upgrades to your Droid Incredible, XXXX. Our goal is to give every customer the best possible experience on every phone. Every HTC phone is a combination of a unique HTC hardware and software experience and a core operating system. We only update our phones if it will provide an overall improved user experience as we balance features, performance and usability. Because of this, we will only be updating certain phones to Gingerbread. At this time, the Droid Incredible is not on that list. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause XXXX, and we hope that this does not detract from your enjoyment and use of the HTC Incredible. We deeply regret any dissatisfaction this issue may have caused. As always, we are here to answer any technical questions or concerns you have from 6am to 1am EDST, 7 days a week, or by phone at 1-866-449-8358. You may also visit us at www.htc.com/us/support for further assistance, user manuals, and helpful tips. To send a reply to this message or let me know I have successfully answered your question log in to our ContactUs site using your email address and your ticket number 11USCW33ENA001610. Sincerely, Stephen HTC

Any chance Mr. Stephen confused the Incredible with the Eris? I certainly hope so. We'll be digging for confirmation on this. Stay with us, peeps. Cheers Josh!

Apple Now Attempts to Take Down the Motorola XOOM, Our Eyes Couldn't Possibly Roll Harder

Kellen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:09:47 +0000

Here we go again...Apple attacking another company. Can we go at least one day without them filing some sort of intellectual property claim/suit/infringement/whatever you want to call it, against another competitor? Today's recipient is Motorola. And here is me yawning. And rolling my eyes. And laughing at how comical this has become I actually have nothing else to say, which is odd. I'm just so sick of Apple trying to bully every other tech company in the world out of releasing products that compete with theirs. As we seem to be saying a lot these days - here's to hoping that governments continue to be pro-innovation and not pro-~~douche~~ whiner. Bleh. Bleh. And more bleh. Via: BGR Cheers Eric!

Logitech Releases Keyboard Case For Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Tim — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:32:55 +0000

If you're an owner of a new Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, then we are sure you have been searching for cases and accessories for your new device. Logitech has just announced pre-orders for their keyboard case which was insanely popular for the iPad, and is now available specially made for our new 4G and WiFi friend. It protects, has shortcut keys, and even acts as a stand for landscape/portrait tabbing. It won't be the cheapest case you ever purchased and will run you a cool $99, but if this is what you were looking for, then Logitech has delivered. Is a hundred dollars too much to be blowing on a case these days? I prefer my XOOM 'nekkid', but everyone has their own preferences. Preorder Here

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE on Verizon - Unboxing

Kellen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:36:57 +0000

We finally decided to give the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE a spin even though it has been available from Verizon for a couple of weeks now. The device, as many of you know, is exactly like the WiFi versions that have been in retail stores for a month or so, but packs that extra special 4G radio, making your mobile life outside of home that much faster. We got a hold of the white 16GB version ($529 on 2-year contract) and will be putting it through the proper tests over the next few weeks to help you decide if you should pick one up or wait to see what the holiday lineup will look like. If it's anything like the our special edition I/O version, we're more than likely have some nice things to say about it. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udqVABrh9ME[/youtube]

Youtube and Flash Both Receive Minor Updates on Android

Kellen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:43:04 +0000

You may have already noticed, but updates for both Flash 10.3 and Youtube went live over the last 24 hours. Neither include anything major and are instead just meant to fix bugs and security issues. There is a chance that the last Youtube update caused some problems with many of you; this new update should make your tummy feel much better. Flash on the other hand is a typical "security" thing, meaning you won't notice it at all. Market Links: Flash | Youtube Cheers to everyone who sent these in!

Video Chat Embedded Deep Within the New Facebook Messenger?

Kellen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:51:14 +0000

Has Facebook made plans to add in video chatting to their newly released Messenger app on Android and iOS? That's certainly the word on the coding street. According to an astute reader over at 9to5Mac, some of the features have already been built in - or at least the initial pieces are. And it would make sense seeing as FB and Skype teamed up just a couple of weeks ago to bring video chatting to the masses. Does anyone find themselves lusting after another video chatting app? (Yes, that was sarcasm.) Via: 9to5Mac Cheers Ben!

Pano Makes Its Way to Android, Bringing Panoramic Pics to a Phone Near You

Kellen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:31:23 +0000

For those of you without panoramic pic taking capabilities already built into your phone, you may be interested in Pano, one of the most popular iOS apps of all time. I've been testing the Android version for the folks at Debacle Software for a couple of months now and have really grown to like it over almost all of other panoramic apps in the market. To use it, you simply snap a shot, move to the right to match up the ghosted image you just took, and snap another as many times as you'd like. It's super simple, does a solid job of stitching photos, and of course, lets you share your creations from within the app. The only issue I ran into was attempting to match up the ghosted pictures in bright sunlight. Depending one what you are taking pictures of, the lighting or the color of your target can make this pretty difficult. The app can be had today for $2, but will jump up to $3 here shortly. Market Link ($2.02)

DROID Bionic Ads Start Popping Up At Citi Field

Kellen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 07:59:16 +0000

If you are in New York and have taken in a Mets game over the last week, then you may have walked right past this new set of ads featuring the one and only DROID Bionic. I'd say either someone forgot to cancel the 8/4 ad campaign or Verizon has realized that we already know all there is to know about this phone and are ready to start spreading the world to the general public. We have already seen galleries upon galleries upon galleries of the world's first dual-core 4G LTE phone, but are still without an official launch date to mark on our calendars. Well, all signs are currently pointing to September 8 with a hopeful September 1 pre-order. I guess we'll know soon enough. Via: Android Central Cheers Michael!

Tuesday Poll: What is your favorite Android instant messaging app?

Kellen — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:18:42 +0000

With the release of Facebook's new cross platform messenger, we saw a lot of talk about not needing another messaging app in this arena and then started wondering which app was the most popular. All of us have Google Talk built right into Android and use it frequently, but we know that many of you use apps that cover multiple social networks and messaging platforms for chatting (Trillian) as well as stand-alone messengers like Kik. We tossed together a quick list of some of the more popular, but wanted you guys to let us know which was the top dog. Everyone fall back on Gtalk or is there another app we should be checking out? If we didn't list your favorite, please drop it in the comments. [poll id="94"]

Want The Sixaxis Game Controller Experience Without Having To Buy An Xperia Play?

Tim — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:12:15 +0000

Well then, you will have to check out the Sixaxis Controller application on the Android Market. If you're a light to moderate mobile gamer, then this should be perfect for you. The application allows you to pair a Sixaxis PS3 controller, or a DualShock 3 controller to your Android phone, to play all the hot titles available. It does require root, but is said to work wonders on tablets, and other devices through a Bluetooth connection. The developer does point out that there are some devices known not to work. Most HTC, and some newer Samsung devices are not supported, due to a required Bluetooth protocol that is not supported. But if you are not using one of those, and looking to take your mobile gaming to the next level, then check out their website, and read all the info to see if it's the right choice for you. If I wasn't an X-Box man myself, I would definitely be all over this. There are two versions which will greatly help your choice in purchasing the $1.67 application. The first one they reccomend you to download is the free "Compatibility Checker", to see if your device is supported. Grab it and let us know which devices it is working/not working on. Happy gaming! Compatibility Checker | Market Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGulIF85SnM[/youtube] Cheers Chase and Bjorn!

Facebook To Release Stand Alone Mobile Messenger For Android And iOS (Updated)

Tim — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:18:02 +0000

Looks like there is finally some useful development happening over at Facebook HQ, as they have begun announcing their newest creation. Anyone in need of a stand alone mobile instant messaging application for all smart phones? Sorry BlackBerry, they're still working on yours. Lately, Facebook has combined your regular messages with the IM's you receive on the site into the same category, so it makes complete sense to simplify all your messages into a single app. FB is also reporting that the people you text or IM don't even need to be your friends on Facebook, but even a contact in your phone's address book will work. The application isn't just a messaging app, either. There is a group feature where you can even share your location with all your selected friends thanks to good 'ol mobile tracking. Release is expected sometime today on the Android Market, but rest assured that as soon as this application drops, we will let you know. Is everyone looking forward to another poorly supported app, or is Facebook going to change their tune and make this one actually work properly? Update: Here is the link to the market to download it. For more info on it's release, check out their Facebook Page. Speaking of which, make sure to Like us on Facebook!

HTCDev Site Shows That Sense + Honeycomb, Equals Sense

Tim — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:30:38 +0000

After exploring the HTCDev site, location of the almighty unlocking of the HTC bootloaders taking place later this year, a reader over at Android Central showed everyone a few things of interest. Included within the goodies are some screen shots of a Honeycomb tablet, running a version of Sense. It hasn't been said whether this is just a developer version yet, or if this is exactly what we saw teased to be released on the HTC Puccini. Looks like you can possibly count on there to be HTC Scribe on HTC's first rendition of a Honeycomb tablet. Everyone open to the idea of bringing HTC's Sense onto their tablets? Can Sense or any other OEM skin outdo what Honeycomb already does? TouchWiz was just recently pumped out the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and so far there are mixed reactions. Feel free to let us know what you think down below. [gallery] Via: Android Central

Motorola CEO Talks Global Branding, New Tablets and If He Would Like to Be First to Ice Cream Sandwich

Kellen — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:53:09 +0000

Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha spoke this morning at the Oppenheimer Annual Technology & Communications Conference, delivering on a variety of questions over a 30 minute period. He touched on the importance (or lack there of?) of the DROID Bionic, where they plan to go globally in the near future through branding, 2nd half tablets, and whether or not he would want to be first to Ice Cream Sandwich. Sanjay is always a good listen, so we've put together a brief summary of some of these parts that stuck out below. DROID Bionic: We'll start with the hottest of topics, the DROID Bionic. While Sanjay would not go into any specific details, like say a launch date, he did make an interesting comment about this device being an "important product, but not the only product," which sort of struck us. Moto in general seems almost surprised at the success of the Photon 4G, DROIDX2 and DROID3, making the late Q3 release of the Bionic much less important, perhaps. We know that it'll be huge for their sales throughout the rest of the year, but you almost get the feeling that they have other things in the works to round out Q4 that could be as important. A New Global Brand: Moto could be looking to take a page out of Samsung's Galaxy branding playbook in the very near future. When asked today about their fragmentation across carriers around the globe (DROID and non-DROID, Milestone, etc.) and if they would adopt something similar to Samsung's approach, Sanjay was clear that they are ready to do something immediately. In fact he said that when you release lead products, "within a very short period across multiple carriers around the globe. That then means you can put marketing dollars behind it and drive sales globally." The follow up question then went directly into branding and whether or not it would become more consistent, garnering this response, "You got it. You will see with global launches, much greater consistency." Hello, KORE? While many of us were looking at the KORE name as the next Moto tablet, what if they instead are using it as their new global brand name? Just something to consider. New 2nd Half Tablets: Tablet talk this morning brought to the front, Motorola's realization that they put too much weight behind their 3G/4G tablet and that they should have been pushing WiFi versions from the beginning. Clearly they don't read this site or our comments enough, or they would have know this from day 1. He did say this though, "Price points move much faster than we anticipated. We needed to launch globally with WiFi much earlier. You will see us launch in 2nd half with our tablets, much more aggressive form factors, much greater differentiation in terms of enterprise capability, in terms of multimedia and in terms of distribution. And potentially some marketing plans behind that." So they clearly understand now that people want tablets that aren't tied to carriers, in different forms factors, and that have much greater multimedia capabilities. They are also planning a another mass marketing campaign which brings up that new KORE name again that we saw last week throughout a variety of new Moto domain purchases. There is a chance that it could be the name of their next tablet, but it could also be the new branding of Moto's mobile line globally. On Being First to Ice Cream Sandwich: To finish out Sanjay's talk at today's Oppenheimer conference, he was asked point blank, if he would want to be the first to Ice Cream Sandwich after dealing with the frustrations of being first to Honeycomb. He had this to say: "It depends. I would say by and large I would like to be the first. But there are times when being the first to launch has greater schedule uncertainty. You are taking more chances with new innovation in the beginning and sometimes that has negative impact. By and large, largely it's a very positive thing." So even after dealing with a half-baked version of Honeycomb and a not-so-impressive selling of the XOOM, Sanjay understands that being the first to a new Android OS is incredibly important Unfortunately for him, we're pretty sure that Samsung will be first to ICS. To Recap: What I took from listening to this conversation, was that Motorola has big global plans in the very near future through both tablets and phones. They have realized that marketing their products to a bigger market is much easier if they adopt a new brand name (possibly KORE), and that their focus is no longer just with Verizon and the DROID group. I did not get the feeling that they will be moving away from DROID, but that everywhere else, they will have some sort of constant name other than Blur that their products can be recognized by. Any thoughts come to mind from you guys?

App Of The Day: No Root Screenshot It

Tim — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 10:41:31 +0000

One of the many perks of rooting our Android phones is the ability to take screen shots whenever, and wherever we please. Our buddies over at AndroidSpin stumbled upon an app that will give this pleasure to the many non-rooted users that still remain. And do not worry, if you don't want to root, no one is forcing you to, yet. Setting up the application is not as easy as just buying, then installing. The developer explains setup much better than I ever could, so I will leave it up to them:

This application will instruct you to download and install a free desktop application on your Windows or Mac. Once installed, you must run the desktop application with your phone attached to your computer. This will enable screenshots on your phone. Once you've done this, you can disconnect your phone and take screenshots whenever you want. However, every time you restart your phone, you'll have to connect it to your computer and run the desktop application again. If you restart your phone frequently, this app may not be for you, as it may prove to be too inconvenient.

If you are not against this setup, and the $5 price tag, then give it a whirl and see what you think. Best of luck to all you non roots out there. Don't forget, even non rooted users can use the Android SDK through USB Debugging mode to take screen shots on their Android device for free. Market Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbbnu1JoyII[/youtube] Via: AndroidSpin

AI Type Keyboard Predicts With the Best of Them, Also Lets You Fully Customize Its Look

Kellen — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:39:31 +0000

We may have just been introduced to our new favorite keyboard. OK, that may be jumping the gun a little, but A.I.Type (AIT) Keyboard has certainly left a strong first impression on us in just the few short minutes that we have had with it. Following Swiftkey's lead, AIT employs the text-predicting model rather than the swiping, and does it quite well. Not only that, it also brings with it some of the BlindType-esque error correction engine that we saw in August of last year. You can miss letters while typing words, but as long as your are in the vicinity of the correct letter, AIT should give you proper results. We should also point out that this keyboard is fully customizable. First, they offer you an array of popular keyboard layouts, but then let you take it to a new level by allowing custom background images and key colors. Oh yeah - it's also free. Market Link Gallery: [gallery link="file" orderby="ID"] Demo: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab25nviakcw[/youtube]

DROID Bionic Shows Off Its 4G LTE Speed Goodness, Battery Life Said to be Stellar

Kellen — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:42:07 +0000

We knew that the DROID Bionic would be the world's first dual-core 4G LTE device, but we had yet to really see it show off the download speeds that it was capable of. Thanks to another tester in the wild, we get just that today. And this is exactly why this phone has been talked about for 8 months now - because it'll have power, style, and run on Big Red's shiny new network. The leaker (Yoda) has also mentioned that he is seeing 15 hours of battery life with moderate usage, something that no other LTE device can really say at this time. We had been hearing from our sources that Moto reps couldn't stop raving about the massive battery and how long it lasts, so to get confirmation from a tester is a nice add-on. And is it just me, or have the pics from the last two days that we've seen with the screen on, look much less PenTile-y than the DROIDX2 and DROID3? I know, I know, it's almost impossible to tell from these quick ninja-shots, but they definitely aren't looking awful. With the LTE Galaxy S II news from this morning followed by these Bionic speed tests, it's probably safe to say that DL readers are officially torn between the two. We 100% know that the Bionic is coming in September - the SGS2, is still a mystery. Via: Phandroid Cheers Michael and Brutalsnowman!

LTE Samsung Galaxy S II Pops Up in Korea Sporting 4.5" Screen and Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon Processor, We All Dance a Jig

Kellen — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:57:01 +0000

If there was ever going to be a chance that we see a slimmed down 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy S II here in the states on Verizon, we needed to see something like this leak overseas. This is a very good sign, folks. According to Korean site IT Tong, an SGS2 variant is headed to one of their carriers in the very near future sporting a 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus screen, 16GB of internal storage, 8MP rear and 2MP front cameras, Gingerbread, and a whopping 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon APQ8060 processor. If you didn't just get excited about that... There is one problem though - this specific phone will run on an 800MHz LTE frequency, when we know Verizon's is 700MHz. I would hope (at least assume) that could be changed pretty easily and will still stay positive that we may see this device some time in the near future. So this phone looks and has similar specs to the T-Mobile version we saw yesterday; here's to hoping we aren't stuck with a slideout Galaxy S2 like many of us have a feeling is coming. Oh, and I would assume that the physical home button would disappear once it hit the states too...hopefully. Here are the full rumored specs:

Thoughts? Via: IT Tong, Ameblo

YouTube Android App Receives Update: Edit Previously Uploaded Movies and Create Playlists

Kellen — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:51:26 +0000

Youtubers, get over to the Android Market and update your favorite app. If you wanted more control of your previously uploaded videos, you will be pleased to know that you can now edit titles, descriptions and privacy of them. You can also create and edit playlists as well as enjoy a new UI for recently recorded videos that need publishing. Seems like fairly minor stuff that simply added more polish to an already solid app, but we always love to see these once-native apps continue to get better. Market Link Cheers Joey!

Motorola Plans to Hand Out Photon 4Gs for the Entire Month of August in a Daily "Lighting Hour"

Kellen — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:31:07 +0000

Motorola has launched a new contest called the "Lightning Hour" that will run from today through the end of August and reward lucky readers with prizes like the Photon 4G. Each contest will be up for one hour each day (the "Lightning Hour") and will require entrants to complete some sort of simple task. The tasks will be announced through Moto's social networks: Twitter and Facebook. Once you see the tweet or wall post for each day's hour, you will have limited time to jump on it, so be quick! Today for example, all you have to do is head to their Facebook page, watch a video, and then enter in your info. Enter today's contest here. Easy enough, right?

Custom Theme Monday: RZ Blue NRG By RaidZero

Tim — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:48:22 +0000

Paul, aka "RaidZero" is a good friend and we are always on top of his work. Lately, he has been dabbling into the dark arts of Android theme making, and so far, we are loving it. His first creation for the masses is entitled RZ Blue NRG, and it is a serious contender against all the other themes out there. With hints of honeycomb, and some insanely cool glowing icons and menus, it is the theme to carry you into the next year. If you are on CM7, or have a ROM which allows for the Theme Manager, check this out. We don't even have to go into much detail when trying to explain the theme. Just check out the gallery, and if you like the glowing as much as we do, then give it a go. Modestly priced in the Android Market for only $0.99. In addition to this theme, might we also suggest Tha Shock by KovDev for the icons which go together like peas and carrots. Note: For those that ask about the clock widget, it is Beautiful Widgets which is an Android classic. And if you are looking for a good wallpaper: check these out. So tell us, what themes are you all using these days? Market Link [gallery]

MediaConverter, Your Converting Needs On Android Have Been Answered

Tim — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:20:32 +0000

If you're a media junkie, and are always in need of converting files on the go, then check out MediaConverter. The developer isn't lying when he states, "Convert Anything". I was converting 3GP into MP4, pics, and docs into PDFs like nobody's business. Besides being able to convert and then instantly upload to Dropbox, you can then share it through email and other outlets right through the app. We didn't run into any instances of not being able to convert anything, so if you're in the market for a mobile converter, give it a shot. Let us know how you like it, and more importantly, if you do find something you can't convert, email the developer so it can be added to the list. The app runs at a more than reasonable $2.99 on the Android Market. Happy converting. Market Link Note: If you're curious about my theme, keep your eye open for a special edition of Custom Theme Monday.

More Blurry DROID Bionic Pictures Show Up, We Get a Nice Side View of its Thickness

Kellen — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:53:37 +0000

The DROID Bionic went from being one of Verizon's better kept secrets to being more leaked than almost any other device in history in about 2 weeks time. First we saw the spec sheet for it on Motorola's site, then gave you two separate galleries of the phone (here and here), which were all followed up by the unveiling of the device through the FCC over the weekend. It's definitely not going to surprise anyone when it hits stores on September 8 (still a rumor), but that doesn't mean we won't jump all over more leaked pictures of it. Today, we have a new set that gives us a blurrified look at its sides, along with a front shot that shows off its 4G LTE logo. So, I'm sure you will all come to your own conclusions after looking at these, but damn, does this thing not look like the next thick tank from Big Red or what? I was told today that the device is essentially as thick as the HTC Thunderbolt and I would say these photos confirm that. That's not necessarily going to be a huge downer and I'm still liking the styling, however, we were hoping for at least DX skinny. Who knows though, maybe in order to make the device last longer than 5 hours on this first-gen LTE tech, they needed to go thick to make room for that massive battery? Actually, we are hearing that Moto reps can't stop raving about its battery life. And yes, the guy is using a task killer on Android 2.3... [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Via: GottaBeMobile Cheers Manny!

Updated Google Search App on the Way, New UI and Grouped Suggestions Included

Kellen — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:16:00 +0000

Google is preparing an update for their search app on Android that should make life much easier for those of us that rely so much on it. They posted the news in a blog post just minutes ago, but have for some reason pulled it. Thanks to our trusty feed reader and Mr. Alfonso who told us weeks ago that this new search that was coming, we have all of the dirty details on it. You can see the new look for search results above, along with the bullet points from Google below:

Suggestions grouped by type, with web suggestions at the top.
Country-specific suggestions and search results for all countries with Google domains.
Long press to remove history items.
Faster, smoother performance, with an updated and simplified user interface.

And a few other tips for this new Search:

Tap the arrow to the right of a search suggestion or history item to edit it before searching.
Get suggestions from other apps on your phone - check out searchable items in Search settings.
Long press on homescreen to add the Google Search widget if you don’t have it already.

Hopefully they will publish the post again soon and also prep the update for launch. Once it goes live, it should be available to all phones running Android 2.2 and higher. Cheers Pete!

Monday Poll: The Perfect Smartphone Screen Size is?

Kellen — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:17:18 +0000

A lot of chatter throughouit the last week or two has been over whether or not the 4.5" devices that are on the horizon are too big or just right. The Samsung Galaxy S II originally launched in Europe/Asia with a 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus display, but has potentially been replaced by a 4.5" version here in the states on T-Mobile. The DROID Bionic was forever rumored to be sporting a 4.5", but we're pretty sure now that it'll be 4.3" as was originally expected - disappointing many of you and pleasing others. We're still pretty undecided as a crew who once fell in love with the 4" screen of the Nexus S and that are now obsessed with the 4.3" version on the SGS2. What do you guys think? Tell us the size of the perfect smartphone display. [poll id="93"]

HTC Bootloader Unlocking to Take Place at HTCDev.com

Kellen — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:16:26 +0000

HTC announced this morning that their site HTCDev.com will be the future home of their bootloader unlocking web tool. When the first updates start rolling out to phones later this month that will give users the option to unlock their phones, this will be the site to check on for all additional details. Remember though, that the only phones currently in the plans to allow bootloader unlocking are the EVO 3D and Sensation 4G - nothing from Verizon. So in order to unlock your Incredible 2 or Thunderbolt, you'll have to do it the hard, manual, and non-OEM approved way. There is a small chance that they could add in older, locked devices, but we would doubt that it'll happen to any of Big Red's previous offerings. If you love HTC combined with VZW, you'll have to look forward and hope that the Vigor gets this same unlocking love. Via: Twitter

First U.S. Galaxy S II Variant Revealed for T-Mobile: Upgraded to 4.5" Screen, Ugly Home Button Removed

Kellen — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:03:26 +0000

With still no official confirmation on different variants of the Galaxy S II by either Samsung or carriers, it's been one big guessing game for most of us. You can now scratch the T-Mobile version off of the list though, as a couple of sites released photos of its SGS2 over the weekend. The Samsung Hercules (codename) (SGH-T989) was willing to show both its front and backsides, making tech enthusiasts drool their Sundays away. With a 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, and the removal of that god-awful physical home button, how can you not get a little giddy when looking at these pics. This new U.S. version looks a lot less iPhoney and a lot more Nexus S-y - something you won't find us complaining about. This device will more-than-likely run on T-Mo's HSPA+ 42Mbps network, but just remember, that doesn't mean for one second that the Verizon version will. We would certainly hope that Verizon wouldn't leave us without their super fast new network, but the current batch of LTE phones are all thick, hefty tanks. So the SGS2 variant for Big Red better have new LTE tech in it that's ultra-slim, or we're probably not getting 4G. (Just my two thoughts.) More pics after the jump.

And another front shot with that beautiful new 4.5" Super AMOLED Plus screen on:

Now if only this exact version would make its way onto Big Red...thoughts? Via: TmoNews, PocketNow

More From the DROID Bionic FCC Filing: Inductive Battery Cover, No Simultaneous 3G Voice-Data, Top and Bottom Shots (Updated)

Kellen — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:41:53 +0000

So we've finally had some time to really dig through the FCC filing of the DROID Bionic that went live today and just wanted to point some things out. First, is the inductive battery charging which we talked about on Friday when we first saw under the hood of this beast. There were prongs beneath the battery cover that led us to believe we would have wireless charging, and we are getting pictures of the cover today. While it looks to add some thickness (as all inductive covers do), it also looks like it will even out the hump - leaving you with a perfectly flat back to the phone. Got to love that. Next, we took a deeper look at the user manual and found some confirmations on things like the screen (4.3") and also the fact that it ~~could be a global device~~. ~~The manual talks about roaming in 200+ countries using GSM radios, so unless they pulled that section from the DROID3, DROID2 Global or Pro~~ (SEE UPDATE BELOW), you can tack on another plus to the DROID Bionic. Dual-core, 4G LTE and a ~~global roamer~~? Sign me up.

(Click to enlarge)

Here is a look at the top and bottom of the phone. Not too thick and not too thin. We get a solid view of that bottom sloping chin that sort of matches the DROID3. We're definitely hoping that the lock switch has moved on the final version though. Top left would not be the easiest thing to hit for those of us that talk with our right hands:

We should also point out that the manual appears to be a bunch of filler pulled from previous devices, so by no means is all of this official. The screen and global capabilities more than likely are, but the version of Blur you are seeing and some of the other OS details could differ when this phone is finally released on September 8 (rumor). Also, we're pulling for a September 1 pre-order to go live - would certainly make sense if the device was going to hit stores on the 8th. Update: It's definitely looking like this WON'T be a global device after all. The filing itself makes no mention of the device having GSM radios in it. Like we said above, this manual was patched together from a variety of devices and should not be taken as gospel. The actual tests performed on the device should be and they say LTE/CDMA/Bluetooth/WiFi:

The Bionic, unlike the HTC Thunderbolt, will NOT be able to do 3G voice and data simultaneously either:

And if you want to see some much prettier shots, be sure to check out our two exclusive galleries from last week: here and here. Cheers to Gustafson for the global and simultaneous data finds!

FCC Releases DROID Bionic Documents, Plus Plenty Of Snapshots

Tim — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:16:14 +0000

Hot off the press this morning, is the newly released FCC documents containing all of the information concerning the Motorola DROID Bionic. As everyone knows, we have been following this device since the beginning, and it's almost a relief to know that the wait is almost over. We know there was plenty of broken hearts at the first announcement of a delay for this device, but it should be worth it. Luckily, the device has not changed at all since last week when we first leaked a handful of images of the Bionic at a testing facility. Most speculated information regarding the phone has now been confirmed, thanks to these docs. We were definitely hoping for a 4.5" display, but since these docs have surfaced, it has been confirmed that the Bionic will have a 4.3" qHD display. Maybe the biggest question surrounding the Bionic, was the actual release date. All fingers are now pointing to September 8th, as shown in Verizon's Road Map, so let's mark our calendars (with pencils if that makes you more comfortable). All of the user manuals, inside and out pics, plus all of the tech talk you could hope for regarding the Bionic is over at the FCC page. You can't tell us this doesn't get you mildly excited for the Bionic's release. Who here is still picking one up? FCC Page [gallery columns="4"] Cheers everyone who sent this in!

Android 3.2 For The Motorola XOOM 3G Rolling Out To All Users

Tim — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 09:16:46 +0000

The Android 3.2 update for the Moto XOOM 3G on Verizon is now available for all users. On Thursday it was for a very select group of test members, so it's looking like no one had any major problems. If you're still not seeing the 3.2 update on your 3G XOOM, then see this post for a manual download of the zip. Enjoy the update. Cheers Jordan, and Ryan!

GetJar Gold Has Top Applications, For "Appsolutely" Free

Tim — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:21:22 +0000

GetJar is now introducing GetJar Gold. Having a nice list of paid apps, for completely free. It definitely resembles Amazon's route of bringing in more traffic by offering free apps, but we as consumers, are not going to complain. For their first round up of free apps, we have some great ones: Backbreaker, SwiftKey X, Age of Zombies, and a few other well known titles. Go check it out and get yourself some free apps. Is it not great when companies give us what we want? No telling how developers will feel about this, but we're hoping GetJar isn't completely ripping them off as it seems other companies might be doing. Update: As our friend Artem pointed out in the comment section below, GetJar is known as a one time download site for apps, with no real support for app updates. We shall see soon enough if GetJar has implemented a new system possibly to update paid for apps you get for free through their Gold program. GetJar Gold Apps

This Week In The Life of DROID: 8/5/11

Tim — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:54:06 +0000

Everyone here is always demanding DROID Bionic info. Have we delivered enough for you? We're going to be getting even more information regarding Verizon's plan for release as we get deeper into August. But it's not just the Bionic that's making news around these parts. HTC's bootloaders, DROIDX2 SBF, and the rooting of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - It was a good week.

So we noticed some people are completely over the Bionic? What's up with that? Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Jumptap Releases OS Breakdown Of America

Tim — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:20:56 +0000

Who doesn't love a good info-graphic from time to time? The newest graph, released by Jumptap, shows 48 U.S. States and how they rank up against each other in overall OS domination. Within their report, spanning 38 million users, Android ranked 1st at a cool 38%. While iOS wasn't too far behind at an impressive 33%. They entitled the top graph, "United States of Android". Suiting, don't you think? Other data recorded was Android users likely to interact with advertising depending on which which carrier (of the US's main four) they were on. Verizon, T-mo, and Sprint all sat around 20%, while AT&T users only showed that 17% were interested in interacting with ads. We can only imagine that these numbers will continue to grow in the same rate, and that the map will be covered in mostly yellow in just a few years. Hard to believe my state of Oregon is dominated by Blackberry. Ay caramba. Check the rest of their report, here. Via: Jumptap

Hey Look, More DROID Bionic Pictures - This Time We See Under the Hood

Kellen — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:44:00 +0000

As if you hadn't had enough DROID Bionic pics for one week (galleries here and here), a couple of additional photos have popped up in a variety of forums. We finally get to see what is under the battery cover! Not sure why I just got so excited about that, but I did. First thing we noticed was the 4G SIM card slot with a microSD card slot on top of it? Odd, but OK. And then you see those prongs that are centered just under the battery? Pretty sure those are for inductive (wireless) battery charging - a nice plus. And that's pretty much it... Oh, except for the second photo which must be from the kind of tester that we all would love to meet. You know, the kind that tosses on ADW, circle battery widget, a custom set of icons and a minimalist clock to rid the phone of Blur. Pic after the jump.

Via: Myegaragesale, Droid Forums, Android Central Cheers Devin, Tyler, Bardia and Phil!

Yahoo! Adds Mobile Application Searches Right To Their Front Page

Tim — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 10:49:51 +0000

Yahoo is getting with the times apparantly, and has now added a tab to their front page entitled, "Apps". Under this new tab you can search between the enormous lists of Android, and iOS applications. Better yet, you can choose applications and send them right to your device from Yahoo. Good looking out, Yahoo. If searching the browser based Market just wasn't enough for you, now you have even more options. After playing with it for a few minutes, it definitely does its job well, and the site is very polished. So go download all the Droid Life apps and let us know what you think. Going to stick to the classic Android browser based, or could you see yourself reading Yahoo's Top News and sifting through apps from now on? Yahoo App Search Cheers Aaron!

HTC's Puccini Tablet Will Sport the First Fully Skinned Version of Honeycomb?

Kellen — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:53:28 +0000

The HTC Puccini tablet has been somewhat of a mystery to this point, other than the fact that we're all pretty sure that it's headed to AT&T as one of their first LTE devices. Today though, we get a glimpse at HTC's plans to be the first OEM to fully skin Honeycomb. Yeah, I know what you are thinking, "Noooooooooooo! Can't we at least have untouched tablets?" To their defense, at least on phones in the past, they have been one of the more polished and stable skins in the game, so we're at least a little interested in seeing what they can do. We've heard some pretty positive things about the tablet version of Sense that is on the Flyer, so we're hoping they have found a way to do this right as well. My thoughts on skinning - A part of me wants to at least see what these OEMs can bring to the table. Honeycomb to me, feels pretty bare bones, so I wouldn't mind seeing some add-ons as long as they aren't overwhelming like they have been on phones. For the most part, I hate the skinning of Android, but 3.0 seems like it could use a little sprucing. Maybe? /me ducks the skinning jabs. :) Gallery below. And let us know what you think about the skinning of Honeycomb. [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Via: PocketNow

Another New DROID Bionic Gallery Surfaces, Looking More Beautiful by the Minute

Kellen — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 08:30:32 +0000

Fresh off of our DROID Bionic gallery from yesterday afternoon, we have a second set of pics that may be a little less blurry in some instances. Still no perfect profile shots, but we do get a clearer look at the front side including that metallic chin, a 2.3.3 lock screen (which we're sure/hoping will be gone at launch), notification light, and that big ol' mysteriously-sized screen. This phone is really matching up perfectly to all of those shots we saw back in June through a variety of overseas forums. This device has been one of the most hotly debated around Droid Life since the Thunderbolt's delay fiasco and we all know how that device has faired. Let's hope Moto and Verizon end up surprising us with this one. It feels like we deserve something spectacular after a year of so-so phones. According to the leaked roadmap from yesterday, the Bionic could be headed for a September 8th release which is 35 days to be exact. *Note - As some of have pointed out in the comments, the 4G logo has moved to a different spot than what we saw yesterday. We're pretty sure this phone is just a slightly older build than what you saw in the other gallery. And that would make sense since this is running older software. No major changes though. Gallery after the break. [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Cheers ___!

Is the Motorola KORE the Next Big Tablet or Phone?

Kellen — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:42:47 +0000

When Motorola starts buying up domains that include a robotic or DROID-esque type of word, we start paying close attention. Such is the case this week, after they apparently bought a variety of them which all include the word "KORE." Can you get anymore futuristic or mechanical than that? Could it be the XOOM2? Maybe the device to follow the Bionic that is currently codenamed DROID HD? CEO Sanjay Jha said that their current plan is to have another LTE phone by the end of the year. We just assumed it was that leaked AT&T device, but wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be on Verizon. The current list looks something like this: MotorolaKore.com, KoreMotorola.com, Moto-kore.com, MotoKore.com, and Motorola-Kore.com. I'd say they fully expect whatever this is, to be huge. You won't find Moto owning MotorolaDefy.com, MotorolaCliq.com or even MotorolaXOOM.com. *Note - Many of you in the comments are pointing out that this could be a mash-up of Core, Quad-Core and Kal-El (NVIDIA's new processor) - KORE. I'm liking that. Any guesses? Via: Fusible, Android Community

TouchWizUX Update for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is Rolling Out Now!

Kellen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:59:33 +0000

The TouchWizUX update for the WiFi Galaxy Tab 10.1 is available now if you are still awake and feel like pulling it. The update will include a new set of live panel widgets, a mini apps tray, new bloatware, and maybe most importantly, Swype for tablets. While this may be one of the first Honeycomb tablets to alter the OS, we're actually hearing pretty decent things about it. Grab it and let us know what you think! Cheers Chris, @Ar_tune, @NickDimauro, and @Virgo119!

Verizon's XOOM 3G Update to Android 3.2 is Rolling Out to Soak Test Members (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:39:55 +0000

The Android 3.2 update for the Motorola XOOM 3G on Verizon is rolling out now to soak test members. If you are a part of that super secretive group, then be sure to head into Settings>About tablet>System updates to pull it. Hopefully this is a sign that the rest of us will see it either tonight or some time tomorrow. Update: If you would like to manually download the file, grab it from Google here. Hoping to have manual update instructions soon. Cheers CF!

Wizz Brings A Nice Assortment Of Widgets To Honeycomb Tablets

Tim — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:08:47 +0000

We're always on the hunt for widgets to fill up our screen's real estate, and look good while doing it. A kind developer over at XDA has pumped out a few to the Market for everyone to use on their tablets running Honeycomb. Definitely worth having on your device if you're widget obsessed. Includes a calendar, agenda, 2 Facebook, 2 Twitter, and 2 G-Reader widgets. All of them are resizable and definitely look classy. What kind of widgets are everyone using on their tablets these days? It seems like there is a serious lack of them for Honeycomb, so hopefully more and more will keep coming as Honeycomb grows older. Market Link Cheers Brian!

New DROID Bionic Pics Surface, Full Look at that Sexy New Back (Updated: Front Shot Added)

Kellen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:45:28 +0000

Up until today, we had only seen a render of the backside of the DROID Bionic, after Amazon posted up a whole batch of accessories for it. Thanks to one of our fantastic readers though, we now have real pictures of what you can expect come early September when this device makes its way into Verizon stores. From these pics, we aren't finding out a whole bunch of new stuff other than the look. It appears to be similar soft-coated material to that used on the DROID3, which we are definitely fans of. We're also getting a really good look at that hump that has for the most part avoided us. It appears to start much more in the middle of the device than say the DROIDX or X2, but that's likely for it to house that 4G LTE chip. This also gives us a pretty good size comparison of it to the DROID Charge. At first glance our jaws dropped because it looked like it was substantially bigger than Samsung's LTE device, but then realized it was just the angle of the photo. ~~Pretty sure it'll be 4.3", my friends~~. I know that many of you are fed up with having to wait so long for it to arrive and after seeing specs, but I'm really diggin' this new look. Your thoughts?

Update: And we have a front pic to add to the bunch. It's definitely blurry, but that's how this game works some times. Could it be 4.5"? Puppy looks huge next to the Charge...

Update 2: DL reader @billnewl put in some work on this comparisons to see if the screen on the Bionic really is bigger and possibly 4.5". You guys tell me...

Update 3: We have added a second gallery over at this post. Cheers ___!

LG Enlighten Will Be Verizon's Mid-Line Slider Running Gingerbread, We Have The Full Spec Sheet

Tim — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:22:07 +0000

Remember that LG Enlighten post from a couple of hours ago? Looks like one of our readers knows everything there is to know about it, including having an entire internal PDF spec sheet on the device. You can look at this phone, one of two ways basically: it's a 800MHz Gingerbread rocking lag beast, or a device which will be launched August 25th (supposedly) to indirect Verizon stores, and not be heard from again. Hello, new Ally? Wasn't there a 1GHz requirement for Gingerbread anyways? It's still a nice little phone running GB, and you never know, people love sliders. Look over the specs, see what you think and let us know in the comments section below. Quick note to Thunderbolt owners, feel free to be frustrated since we still unfortunately have no word on a Gingerbread update.

Cheers ___!

OpenFeint Adds 230 New Games To Android In Two Months, Introduces Social Network To Users

Tim — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:17:16 +0000

OpenFeint is basically a pimp of Android games. Not only are they helping pump out great games, they are beginning the roll-out of their social network which stretches over all of their 700+ titles. Android users can feel free to be snobby a bit, since iOS won't have this feature till Fall. Feel special? Feint has released 230 games to the Android Market in the past two months. After searching OpenFeint on the Market, I was literally scrolling down for 10 minutes looking through game after game. I don't think we'll need submissions for a game review for at least two months. Whether you use OpenFeint's features or not, you surely have one of their games on your device. Fruit Ninja, The Moron Test, Guerrilla Bob, and Jet Car Stunts? Come on, these games are classics. Has anyone started to use their new social network? If you have, find us on there and challenge us.

OpenFeint Games Dominate Top Android Charts as Network Adds 230 New Games in 2 Months

Begins rolling out new free-to-play social networking features to entire Android game catalog

BURLINGAME, Calif. - August 04, 2011 - OpenFeint, the world’s largest mobile social gaming network with 107 million users, continues to rapidly grow on Android. Today it’s announcing that it has added 230 games in just over two months and now counts 24 of the top 100 paid and free games on Android.
“Game developers want to join the social gaming network that reaches the most global users,” said Eros Resmini, senior vice president of marketing at OpenFeint. “As OpenFeint games have taken over the top Android charts, our developers are also benefitting from additional distribution channels we’ve launched with AT&T in the U.S. and The9 in China.” Additionally, OpenFeint announced that it has started rolling out the first elements of its next generation social network on Android. Designed to help grow user engagement, new player profiles complete with status updates and player message walls are now live in all 700 games. iOS games will see new features this Fall. “Free-to-play games require an engaged social graph to succeed. With new features like these going live every couple of weeks, OpenFeint is rapidly activating our user base for game developers,” said Ethan Fassett, SVP of product at OpenFeint. Top ranked OpenFeint games on Android include:

Fruit Ninja, Halfbrick Studios

Fruit Ninja THD, Halfbrick Studios

StarDunk, Godzilab Inc.

Gun Bros, Glu Mobile

Contract Killer, Glu Mobile

Big Time Gangsta, Glu Mobile

Bug Village, Glu Mobile

The Moron Test, DistinctDev, Inc.

Guerrilla Bob, Angry Mob Games

Speedx 3D Full & Free, HyperBees Ltd.

Speedx 3D, HyperBees Ltd.

Brain Cube – Premium, XiMAD

Can Knockdown 2, Infinite Dreams

Gem Miner: Dig Deeper, Psym Mobile

Jet Car Stunts, True Axis

Jewellust, Smartpix Games

MiniSquadron!, Gray Fin Studios

Roboto, Fenix Fire Entertainment

Stupid Zombies, GameResort

Tank Hero, Clapfoot Inc.

Tic Tac Toe Glow – Free, mobivention

Trial Xtreme, Galapagos

Wisp, Triolith Entertainment, AB

X Construction, CrossConstruct

Game developers interested in using OpenFeint in their games should visit OpenFeint.com/Developers for more information.

Oh Google, Did You Jump the Gun With that Patent Rant Yesterday? (Updated: Maybe Not)

Kellen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:39:09 +0000

More patent garbage, apologies ahead of time. Remember the epic rant from Google yesterday, having to do with the patent situation in the tech world and how everyone is in bed with one another which is creating a hostile environment? Their chief legal office even going as far as calling out some companies specifically like Microsoft, Apple and Oracle? While we all got fired up and excited, agreeing with every single point that was made, it turns out that maybe the "Publish" button shouldn't have been pressed just yet. (Update: Or should it have been? Google has fired back with some pretty strong comments. We have added them just after the Microsoft part.) Microsoft, last night, decided to fire back at Google with an email that was exchanged between the two companies, possibly showing that the Redmond-based software behemoth had actually reached out to see if Googs was interested in joining their Novell patent purchasing group. Google obviously, turning down their offer. Yikes. Brad Smith, from Microsoft's general counsel also tweeted the following:

So what do we make of all this? Well for starters, Microsoft may have asked that Google join them in the Novell patent group, but that still doesn't mean that the Nortel patents which were purchased just a few weeks ago, weren't purchased to simply attack Android in the "hostile" way that they have claimed. We don't really know the whole situation here, nor will we ever. It's one of those online troll fights between two mega companies now. It's actually looking pretty pathetic from both sides, if you ask me. Update: And Google has already fired back with some pretty significant points:

It's not surprising that Microsoft would want to divert attention by pushing a false "gotcha!" while failing to address the substance of the issues we raised. If you think about it, it's obvious why we turned down Microsoft’s offer. Microsoft's objective has been to keep from Google and Android device-makers any patents that might be used to defend against their attacks. A joint acquisition of the Novell patents that gave all parties a license would have eliminated any protection these patents could offer to Android against attacks from Microsoft and its bidding partners. Making sure that we would be unable to assert these patents to defend Android — and having us pay for the privilege — must have seemed like an ingenious strategy to them. We didn't fall for it. Ultimately, the U.S. Department of Justice intervened, forcing Microsoft to sell the patents it bought and demanding that the winning group (Microsoft, Oracle, Apple, EMC) give a license to the open-source community, changes the DoJ said were “necessary to protect competition and innovation in the open source software community.” This only reaffirms our point: Our competitors are waging a patent war on Android and working together to keep us from getting patents that would help balance the scales.

I think the big thing here, is that we're all sick to death of talking about patents and the broken system we have for them here in the U.S. To think that companies can buy patents, to then turn around and tell their competitors not to use them, is bass ackwards in the way the world and competition and innovation should work. I completely understand the idea of going after someone who is using technologies that you have patented, but to go out and purchase more, just for the sake of turning around and saying, "Well, we own this now, so you can't use it anymore," is completely against everything this country is supposed to stand for. Here's to hoping the government does exactly what it did with the Novell group, and helps fuel competition rather than squash it. Bleh, burnt out on patents.

Verizon Set To Release LG Enlighten Next Month In US?

Tim — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:10:48 +0000

Verizon is potentially bringing the LG Gelato Q to the United States as the LG Enlighten. Release is rumored for sometime in September, and wouldn't it be awesome if it looked like this? We would have to buy one just for novelty purposes. It could just be a filler phone, or may not even be released since we don't see it anywhere on Verizon's leaked Road Map from yesterday. Anyone down for an LG Qwerty? I remember my first "smartphone" was an LG qwerty called, The Voyager. Remember those? Via: PocketNow

Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE Easily Rooted, Netflix Hack from Transformer Also Works

Kellen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:33:55 +0000

One of our readers who purchased a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE has already found a way to root it using the same file and method that was used to root the WiFi-only version. It actually doesn't get any easier than this, folks. It's a simple file download followed by a boot into recovery and a quick flashing. I guess a big "Thanks!" to Samsung is needed for making this so simple. And if you want Netflix, there is a patch that has been working on the Asus Transformer that will also work on the Tab. Everything is included at the source link below. Full instructions can be found at this XDA thread. More pics of root and Netflix can be seen here. Cheers Ben!

"Official" DROID Bionic Twitter Calls Out @MDB228, Assures You That The Wait Will Be Worth It

Kellen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:16:26 +0000

Following the drama of @MDB228 and @DroidBionic on Twitter over the last weeks has been entertaining to say the least. As of today though, it was taken to a whole new level when one called the other out as being a fake. Hah, Droid Bionic Twitter drama at its best...OK, moving on to what's important. In the latest tweet of what we're assuming is the "official" DB account, we are told that the wait will be well worth it even though the device was supposed to have been out back in May. After seeing semi-official specs earlier this week, we (and possibly this Twitter account) get the feeling that many of you are disappointed, and are instead looking past the Bionic and onto phones like the HTC Vigor or Samsung Stratosphere. I will just say that we really won't know the verdict on this phone until we all have it in hand. Some of you were expecting more, but truthfully, even if those leaked specs come true, this is still one of the most powerful devices on the planet. You can't argue that it's "old tech" or that it's not "top tier" because it is. There are no dual-core phones with 4G LTE currently; the Bionic is aiming to be the first. Could the HTC Vigor blow our minds a month after its release? Of course. But we could be saying that for every device for the next 10 years. Tech is changing so quickly that almost every device will feel old in just a couple of months, sort of like the computer industry was back in the 90s. So what do you guys think, will it be worth the wait or have you completely moved on? Cheers @legoturtle92!

Bootloader Possibly Unlocked on the Verizon Xperia PLAY, Root is Go

Kellen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:11:59 +0000

The long wait may be over for Verizon Xperia PLAY owners. The device may have finally been unlocked and rooted thanks to XDA member ashergray. He's claiming to have a method that will be unveiled tomorrow and has provided screenshots of his successes for the time being. The top one is apparently the unlocking process, but you'll also see screenshots showing proof of root below - something that had not yet been accomplished either.

These are exciting times for a device that had been neglected on the bootloader unlocking front by both Sony Ericsson and Verizon. The GSM variants all have unlockable bootloaders, but for whatever reason (we can probably guess why), the CDMA version was left locked. So much for that. +1 to the dev community again. Oh, and I said "possibly" in the title simply for the fact that the instructions are not out and we have no other confirmations of this method working. You will want to follow this XDA thread for instructions. Cheers PouxOnU!

Shazam Receives Update to Support Android 3.3? (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:41:10 +0000

What's with all of these app companies outing new versions of Android ahead of time? Yesterday, we saw Rdio claiming to now support Ice Cream Sandwich - something we found sort of hard to believe. Today though, Shazam received an update that says it now supports Android 3.3, a newer build of Honeycomb than anyone has seen. We all know that Android 3.2 introduced support for a variety of tablet screen sizes, SD card (read-only) support, and a useful new zooming feature for apps, but had not heard of a version to follow it yet. Could 3.3 be just around the corner? Any ideas on what it may include? Or should we assume that Shazam simply meant 3.2? Update: I should point out that both my XOOM and Galaxy Tab are not showing as compatible with Shazam and I'm also hearing that Transformers on 3.2 can't see it, so maybe 3.3 is the real deal. Maybe Shazam is introducing a tablet version with 3.3. Fun, fun. Market Link Cheers @Samlehman90!

DROIDX2 Gingerbread SBF Released

Kellen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:28:10 +0000

With the release of the Gingerbread update for the DROIDX2, many of you have been waiting for an official SBF to pop up in case you run into any dark corners while either trying to root or flash something to it. Thanks to daywalker04 over at XDA, it is now available. File this one away, you never know when you might need a full SBF. Via: XDA [Download] Cheers Mikey!

Skype with Video on Android Updated: Thunderbolt, DROID Charge, Revolution and Others Now Supported

Kellen — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 07:59:29 +0000

Hard to believe, isn't it? The HTC Thunderbolt, the device that was supposed to kick off the Skype with Video campaign back in March is just now receiving it almost a month and a half after it was released to the Android Market. The Skype team didn't just stop there though and actually added 17 other top devices including the DROID Charge, LG Revolution and Samsung Galaxy S II to the supported list. It looks like they've adopted the same model as Netflix (slowly but surely), but we'll admit that we are still happy that it's making its way onto some of our favorite phones. Oh, we should probably point out that if your phone is running 2.2, like the Thunderbolt and Charge, you won't be able to use your front camera with it. Not sure what exactly Skype is thinking, but that's what we have. Here is the list of newly supported devices:

Acer A5 HTC Desire (2.2) HTC Desire HD HTC Evo 3D HTC Evo 4G HTC Flyer HTC Incredible S HTC Sensation HTC Thunderbolt - Verizon (2.2) (US only) LG Revolution - Verizon (2.2) (US only) Samsung Droid Charge - Verizon (2.2) (US only) Samsung Galaxy S Samsung Galaxy S II Samsung Galaxy Tab Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Sony Ericsson Xperia ray

Market Link Via: Skype Cheers Nathan and thegeek!

HTC to Allow Bootloader Unlocking Via Web Tool for "Developers and Enthusiasts"

Kellen — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:18:31 +0000

You have got to give it up to HTC. They may not have unlocked a bootloader yet, but they sure have been up front with their plans to do so in the very near future - something we can't say for another big time smartphone maker. In just under three months, they have gone from locking it all down, to realizing that their customers are important, and in some cases want more from their devices. Starting this month, HTC will start to roll out a software update to a select few devices that will then provide users with the ability to unlock their bootloader. Once the update has been received, HTC will provide a "web tool" that can be used alongside the Android SDK to unlock devices. Obviously, there will be disclaimers and warnings about this process voiding your warranty, but those of us that have been doing this for a few years now, completely understand the risks. Moving forward, HTC has also admitted that they will ship devices as locked, but that customers can decide for themselves if they want to unlock them. Exactly the way it should be. Here are the full details:

Since our last update, many of you have asked how the bootloader unlocking process will actually work, and in particular why HTC's most recently released devices still have a locked bootloader. Rest assured we're making progress toward our goal to roll out the first software updates in August to support unlocking for the global HTC Sensation, followed soon by the HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile and the HTC EVO 3D on Sprint. Because unlocking the bootloader provides extensive control over the device and modifications may cause operation, security and experience issues, new devices will continue to ship locked but will support user-initiated unlocking using a new Web-based tool. So how will this work? The Web tool, which will launch this month, requires that you register an account with a valid e-mail address and accept legal disclaimers that unlocking may void all or parts of your warranty. Then plug in your phone to a computer with the Android SDK loaded to retrieve a device identifier token, which you can then enter into the Web tool to receive a unique unlock key via e-mail. Finally, apply the key to your device and unlocking will be initiated on your phone. We're excited to bring bootloader unlocking to developers and enthusiasts, and we feel this new Web tool will meet your needs and continue to provide customers with the best experience. Thanks to the community for supporting these efforts!

Again, I just want to give it up to HTC for creating this new bootloader policy and procedure. While they may be struggling to update the Thunderbolt to Gingerbread, they clearly understand the importance of having a developer community behind their product. +1 to that. Via: Facebook Cheers Jason!

Leaked Verizon Roadmap Reveals Potential Launch Dates for Stratosphere, Vigor, Bionic and More

Kellen — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:24:20 +0000

The folks over at IGN may have just landed the ultimate Verizon roadmap leak for the next couple of months. We're not even sure where to begin with so many exciting things to point out including potential release dates, but we'll do our best to contain ourselves and make this simple. The big things of note are the confirmation of the Samsung Stratosphere that we've been talking a ton about lately, the HTC Vigor replacing the Thunderbolt, and a new LG Revolution 2 that we semi-confirmed the other day. So here we go...

DROID Bionic: (9/8 launch) - You already know everything about this device, don't you?
Samsung Stratosphere: (9/8 launch) - 4G LTE device running Android 2.3
HTC Vigor: (10/6 launch) - Will replace the HTC Thunderbolt
LG Revolution 2: (10/20 launch) - Will replace the original Revolution
Samsung Galaxy Tab P8 (November launch) - Could be the 8.9" Galaxy Tab?
Samsung Illusion: (9/29 launch) - 3G smartphone running Android 2.3
Samsung Plato: (January launch) - whatever it is, it was pushed to 2012
HTC Bliss: (9/29 launch) - Lower end Android 2.3 device; the chick phone?
Motorola XOOM 4G LTE: (9/8 launch) - Assuming this is the date that the 4G LTE upgrade starts. Also when the 4G LTE version will be in stores.

Still no word on whether or not the Stratosphere is the Galaxy S2, but it could be battling it out directly with the Bionic should they both meet that 9/8 launch date. Folks will have to wait for the HTC Vigor which will make its debut the following month to replace the Tbolt as one of the most anticipated devices we have reported on in a while. And we could see some additional Android players on all sorts of levels. So August may indeed be as boring as we predicted, but this fall is looking to be spectacular. Via: IGN Cheers Derek!

Brand New Motorola XOOM Wi-Fis On eBay For Just $440

Tim — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:10:41 +0000

Every time we post about a deal about the Motorola XOOM, there is always a friendly group of people saying that whatever the asking price is set at, it's still too high. We see where you're coming from, so how does this new price sound? Only $440 for a brand new, in box wi-fi only XOOM. Seems like robbery in my book, but we could just be biased since we see the 20 pound Honeycomb rocking beast as sort of an icon. Anyone gonna pick one up? Buy Now Cheers TheAndroid1, James!

Samsung Fascinate Retired at Verizon, New Device Ready to Take its Place?

Kellen — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:29:49 +0000

No, we didn't put the word "RETIRED" on that screenshot. That's actually how Verizon is referring to the status of the Samsung Fascinate as of this week. The device has been pulled from Big Red's online shop and will probably be just as tough to track down in store. As far as we know though, the device will still receive Gingerbread, but after that, support will likely dwindle. Not a bad run for a non-DROID branded device, except for the amount of time it took to see Froyo of course. So if a device is on the way out, does that mean that something will replace it? We would certainly hope so. Right now there are rumors of a device from Samsung called the Stratosphere, which may or may not be the Galaxy S II. We're pretty sure that it will be one of Verizon's next 4G LTE devices, but other than that, device specifics have not been revealed. Or it could end up just being that Epic 4G-esque device with a slideout keyboard that we saw a couple of weeks ago. Maybe a Fascinate II? It is anyone's guess at this point. Fascinate owners, sad day or just shoulder shrug-worthy? Cheers Spaniard and Sam!

HTC Rep: Thunderbolt Gingerbread Update Coming in Q3

Kellen — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:39:37 +0000

I know that a Q3 release of Gingerbread for the HTC Thunderbolt is sort of assumed at this point since they missed their Q2 deadline, but we wanted to point out that HTC service reps have been given the "OK" to spread the word. One of our readers reached out to express his concerns over the various problems with his device and received a response back that included word on the update:

...We will certainly pass along your concerns to the developers at HTC. We are working hard to address the issues you have mentioned with future updates for the device. We are excited to announce that the HTC Thunderbolt will receive the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update in Q3 2011. Stay tuned for details as we get closer to the update availability...

Not surprising of course since we are already in Q3, but that should at least narrow it down to some time within the next 8 weeks. Uggh. And still no word on the original Incredible - we're thinking Q3 for it as well, though. Cheers Todd!

Google Speaks Out on the "Hostile, Organized Campaign" by Apple, Microsoft and Oracle To Stop Android Through "Bogus Patents"

Kellen — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:02:31 +0000

David Drummond the Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Google, just released a pretty epic statement. If you ever wanted to know their feelings on the ridiculous patent situation that Apple, Microsoft and Oracle have brought forth towards Android, then you'll want to read this. Some incredibly strong words that I couldn't agree with more. Here is the piece in its entirety:

I have worked in the tech sector for over two decades. Microsoft and Apple have always been at each other’s throats, so when they get into bed together you have to start wondering what's going on. Here is what’s happening: Android is on fire. More than 550,000 Android devices are activated every day, through a network of 39 manufacturers and 231 carriers. Android and other platforms are competing hard against each other, and that’s yielding cool new devices and amazing mobile apps for consumers. But Android’s success has yielded something else: a hostile, organized campaign against Android by Microsoft, Oracle, Apple and other companies, waged through bogus patents. They’re doing this by banding together to acquire Novell’s old patents (the “CPTN” group including Microsoft and Apple) and Nortel’s old patents (the “Rockstar” group including Microsoft and Apple), to make sure Google didn’t get them; seeking $15 licensing fees for every Android device; attempting to make it more expensive for phone manufacturers to license Android (which we provide free of charge) than Windows Mobile; and even suingBarnes & Noble, HTC, Motorola, and Samsung. Patents were meant to encourage innovation, but lately they are being used as a weapon to stop it. A smartphone might involve as many as 250,000 (largely questionable) patent claims, and our competitors want to impose a “tax” for these dubious patents that makes Android devices more expensive for consumers. They want to make it harder for manufacturers to sell Android devices. Instead of competing by building new features or devices, they are fighting through litigation. This anti-competitive strategy is also escalating the cost of patents way beyond what they’re really worth. Microsoft and Apple’s winning $4.5 billion for Nortel’s patent portfolio was nearly five times larger than the pre-auction estimate of $1 billion. Fortunately, the law frowns on the accumulation of dubious patents for anti-competitive means — which means these deals are likely to draw regulatory scrutiny, and this patent bubble will pop. We’re not naive; technology is a tough and ever-changing industry and we work very hard to stay focused on our own business and make better products. But in this instance we thought it was important to speak out and make it clear that we’re determined to preserve Android as a competitive choice for consumers, by stopping those who are trying to strangle it. We’re looking intensely at a number of ways to do that. We’re encouraged that the Department of Justice forced the group I mentioned earlier to license the former Novell patents on fair terms, and that it’s looking into whether Microsoft and Apple acquired the Nortel patents for anti-competitive means. We’re also looking at other ways to reduce the anti-competitive threats against Android by strengthening our own patent portfolio. Unless we act, consumers could face rising costs for Android devices — and fewer choices for their next phone.

And as always, we'll leave it open for discussion. Via: Google Blog

Google+ App Receives An Update And Continues To Grow At Excellent Rate

Tim — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:30:30 +0000

Yesterday, Google pushed out an update to their highly popular Google+ application. It isn't just some small change either. It looks like the boys and girls at Google are investing their time and resources into the application, and it is quickly soaring over the usability of the Facebook app. Poor FB, it's becoming extremely neglected lately. Google+ has now reached more than 20 some-odd million users, and is expected to grow at an exponential rate now that inviting friends has become an option for everyone. Watch out, Mark! Market Link Update includes:

Improved notifications reliability
"_add to circle" notifications shown in bulk
Share stream posts to individual people
Clicking a +mention takes you to the person’s profile
+mentions now autofill from your Circles
Stream no longer resets to top when screen is rotated
Nearby accuracy
Start a 1:1 huddle from a person’s profile or a group huddle from a circle profile
Hide 1:1 huddles
Clickable links in huddles
Improved auto-complete when adding a person to a huddle

Is everyone having a great time with Google+ so far? I suppose the main question is, has everyone received an invite yet? Go be a social butterfly and invite everyone you know. Cheers @BlairAlton! :)

DROIDX Finally Receiving Gingerbread Bug Fixer in Mid-August?

Kellen — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:45:21 +0000

We are all well aware that the Gingerbread update for the original DROIDX probably caused more problems than it fixed. While it brought some of the performance goodness that comes with Android 2.3 and a shiny blue UI, there were enough bugs included to force Motorola into holding the rest of their GB builds back for devices like the DROID2, Global and Pro. The good news is that Verizon support and Motorola have acknowledged it and are expecting it to be ready in mid-August.

We have forwarded your information to Motorola. They were able to duplicate the issue on their end. As of 7/29/11 we have learned that it will be corrected with MR6 update. At this point, a target release date for this update is mid-August. As soon as more information becomes available, we will be sure to post it here. In the interim, if are turning the device off to avoid notification tones during your slumber, you may want to put the device on silent until we get the resolution. TamaraH_VZW Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

Good news, right? Mid-August is really only a week or two away, so be on the lookout. Via: VZW Forums Cheers Manny!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi Updates Begin Rolling Out On Friday, Ready For TouchWiz?

Tim — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:11:14 +0000

Are you a happy Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi owner? Then you should start checking your tab for an update this Friday, August 5th. If you just so happen to live in New York City, and don't have time to just sit around and wait for an update, Samsung is also hosting an "Update Party" in Columbus Circle today. Get on it. The update will have a few additional features besides just the bump up to the TouchWiz UI. It will also come with Words with Friends, and Amazon Kindle pre-installed, plus the newest version of Swype for Honeycomb. Samsung has been on top of their game lately, so let's hope they stay consistent. We should point out again, this is just for the Wi-Fi only version. No update expected yet for the Verizon 4G LTE version. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlLP3RXkmUQ[/youtube] Via: Samsung Cheers Scott!

About that 'Amazon Appstore is Rotten to the Core' Story...

Kellen — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:38:17 +0000

As our inbox indicates, many of you have read the story from Shifty Jelly (SJ) about their rotten experience with the Amazon Appstore and how they feel completely ripped off after joining the Free App of the Day program. If you haven't, I'll try and recap in the briefest of ways. (I tried to make it brief, but it's turned into a book.) Shift Jelly decided to inquire about Amazon's Free App of the Day program, hoping to launch their app into the spotlight. When they heard back from Amazon, everything was lining up, except for a single line in a return email that made it more-than-clear that they would not be receiving any money on the day that their app was featured as free. In fact, in bold it said, "The current price of this placement is at 0% rev share for that one day you are placed." So for that one day, Shift Jelly's app would not make any money no matter how many copies were downloaded. You all with me? Wondering why they would not receive the 20% that was included in the original developer agreement, SJ responded back asking to receive what they had originally agreed to. Amazon fired back saying that since they would not receive money, neither would SJ, but that with the "highly valuable" front page placement for the following 14 days, they would certainly make a ton of money. So to recap quickly, we have the following: 1. Amazon told them in bold (more than once) that they would receive nothing. 2. SJ asked for 20% and Amazon responded again telling them that they would receive nothing except prime placement on their front page for 14 days. What did SJ decide? To go forward with it, knowing that they would make nothing on the day that their app was free. When the day came that their app was featured, 101,491 people downloaded their app. And just as they agreed to, received nothing in exchange except a prime spot on Amazon's page for the next two weeks. So what's all this "rotten" fuss about? We're still trying to figure that out. We're thinking the shock of seeing that his app normally would have made $54,805 had he been paid for those 101K downloads was what got this all started. Sure, that number is jaw-dropping as hell, but when you agree to not receive anything, how can you get that mad? In a world of sales that's built on negotiations, I'm just wondering what the hell this guy was thinking. And alongside this revelation that he would not receive any amount of that $54K, he also now had to invest money into more servers for his app since he now had over 100,000 people using it. So not only did he receive nothing but a bunch of downloads, he also now has extra costs thanks to this promo. But what about his 14-day prime placement? Didn't that kick start the money-making engine and even all of this out? Apparently not. Since his day as the free app, his download numbers haven't been impressive, leading again, to this "rotten" post that is making its way all over the internet. I'll just end this with a couple of thoughts. Anyone ever heard of Groupon? They do something in a similar fashion. When you are featured as their deal of the day, they initially try to get you to absorb all of the cost of whatever the deal is. What I mean by that is, let's say they sell coupons for $10 worth of goods at your store, but only charge $5 for it. Ok, so Groupon will approach you asking for all $5 (or 100%, or 0% rev share to you), but tell you that with all of the new customers headed your way, along with the fact that people normally spend more than the $10, you will come out on top in the end. Smart business owners examine the heck out of that deal and then re-negotiate at least some sort of revenue sharing because they realize that they can't absorb that huge of a hit. So in the case of Shift Jelly, I'm just wondering again, what the hell were they thinking? Sure, the developer's agreement stated 20%, but when Amazon insisted that they were going to receive 0%, why not turn the deal down? Wouldn't you already know that you would be taking a huge hit and also putting your server structure under a lot of stress? If you couldn't at least get 5-10% and have Amazon meet you in the middle, why not walk away? Now, with that rant over, I'll just say that this isn't the first time we have heard bad things about the Amazon Appstore. They price your apps however they want, won't let you remove them, update them slower than molasses, and basically own you if you have an app placed with them. So while I feel bad that SJ feels like they got ripped off, we can at least use this as an educational piece for future developers who are looking to be the Free App of the Day. Just like Groupon and other coupon sites, giving your products away for nothing isn't always a winning situation. You can read the entire story from this developer at their Shift Jelly blog. Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Google Chooses TI's New OMAP to Lead the Ice Cream Sandwich Charge?

Kellen — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:29:57 +0000

The image above has been sent out to a number of sites this week as a potential promotional tool for TI to use in the fall, which has led many of us to believe that Google has chosen their OMAP4 processors to further develop Ice Cream Sandwich and possibly even the next Nexus device. We likely won't know for sure until we get closer to that Q4 release time frame that Andy Rubin told us about back at I/O, but this would be a pretty good sign as to what we can expect. Speculation as to which TI processor will make the cut has essentially been narrowed down to the 4460 and 4470. We have seen the 4430 in devices like the DROID3 and soon to be released DROID Bionic, but are thinking Google will want to step it up a notch with this next Nexus device. The 4460 can be clocked up to 1.5GHz, pump out full 1080p 3D content and started sampling at the beginning of 2011 (seems like the clear choice). The 4470 on the other hand hasn't even started sampling to our knowledge, but is supposed to bring significant graphics and memory improvements over the 4460, while also packing a 1.8GHz punch. It's anyone's guess as to which particular chipset, however, it's looking like TI has been given the thumbs-up. You guys good with OMAP4? Or were you hoping for something out of the Qualcomm camp? Maybe even NVIDIA's Kal-el? Via: CNET, Android and Me

Time Inc Will Launch Entire 21 Title Magazine Portfolio on Tablets This Year

Kellen — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:01:05 +0000

More magazines on tablets! Hooray for Time Inc. By the end of this year, they plan to unleash their entire 21 title portfolio of magazines onto your Android tablet. As the first U.S. magazine publisher to make such a move, you can expect see titles like People, Time, Fortune, Sports Illustrated and Entertainment Weekly. With print seemingly dying down these days, this move makes sense, especially with tablet sales only increasing. If you wish to subscribe to any of their publications, you will have a number of choices: digital only, print and digital, or the ability to purchase single editions.

Time Inc. to Launch Tablet Editions for Its Entire U.S. Portfolio of 21 Titles by Year End
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As part of Time Inc.’s industry-leading effort to deliver its iconic brands everywhere consumers want them, the company today announced that all 21 of its U.S. titles will be available as tablet editions by the end of 2011. Time Inc. will be the first major U.S. magazine publisher to make all of its titles available on all leading tablet platforms, with products designed specifically for this medium. "Having our entire portfolio available on tablets will create a significant new digital reach for our advertisers." Brands including INSTYLE, REAL SIMPLE and ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY will now join PEOPLE, TIME, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED and FORTUNE with digital tablet versions. To date, Time Inc.’s digital magazine and other content apps have been downloaded more than 11 million times. Hundreds of thousands of current print subscribers have upgraded their subscriptions to include the tablet editions at no extra cost, with thousands more being added each week. Time Inc. has also sold more than 600,000 digital single copies of those four titles. "Now is the time for us to make this bold commitment. In the coming year, there will clearly be many more consumers using tablets, accelerating demand for content and driving advertiser interest. We are putting ourselves in a great position to take advantage of these opportunities," said Maurice Edelson, EVP and a member of Time Inc.’s interim management committee. "Having our entire portfolio available on tablets will create a significant new digital reach for our advertisers." Today, the company also announced an agreement with Barnes & Noble to sell digital subscriptions and single-copy issues of FORTUNE, PEOPLE, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED and TIME on the NOOK Color starting later this month, with the rest of the portfolio to follow by year-end. The Barnes & Noble agreement adds the NOOK Color to a growing list of platforms where Time Inc. distributes its digital titles, including Apple iPad, Android Marketplace, HP TouchPad and Next Issue Media’s store. Time Inc. offers consumers an All Access approach that includes print and digital subscriptions, as well as digital-only subscriptions and the ability to purchase single copies. Additionally, each of Time Inc.’s 28 million print subscribers will have the option to upgrade their subscription to include the digital edition at no additional cost. The digital editions will be presented using reader software that is native to each platform. Print ads will be incorporated into the tablet editions. The company plans to report digital sales and subscriber information to ABC (Audit Bureau of Circulations) beginning in January 2012. Time Inc. research shows consumers place a high value on digital editions that include ads. About Time Inc. Time Inc., a division of Time Warner, is one of the largest branded media companies in the world. The company’s magazines reach more than 110 million Americans each month, and its websites attract nearly 50 million unique visitors each month. With influential brands such as TIME, PEOPLE, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, INSTYLE, and REAL SIMPLE, Time Inc. is home to celebrated events and franchises including the FORTUNE 500, TIME 100, PEOPLE’s Most Beautiful and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S Sportsman of the Year.

Rdio Updates App to Support 'Ice Cream Sandwich', Sure They Did

Kellen — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:07:19 +0000

According to the makers of popular music subscription services Rdio, their app is now compatible with the newest version of Android aka Ice Cream Sandwich. Wait, what? Yeah, the same OS that head Android honcho Andy Rubin, told us wouldn't be available on handsets until Q4 of this year. Any chance they have a build early? It certainly seems highly unlikely that anyone would have it at this time, but I guess you just never know. It's our understanding that they have, as of this week, chosen TI to be the processor (more on that in a bit) that's used to help develop ICS, so seeing an app company with access to it already just seems odd. Do they know something that we don't? Any chance we see builds of it before Q4? Ehh, not betting on that. Or did they simply mean "Honeycomb" instead of ICS? Probably. Market Link Via: Android Central

All Versions of the Samsung Nexus S are Free Tomorrow Through Best Buy

Kellen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:25:07 +0000

If you can't handle the skins that phone manufacturers continue to put on top of Android and need something 100% stock and clean, then you may want to head into a Best Buy tomorrow and pick up a Samsung Nexus S. All variants (3G version on T-Mobile or AT&T / 4G version on Sprint) will be free when you sign up for a new contract by either setting up a new line or upgrading a current handset. While this device may not have dual-core this and that, it's still one of the fastest and most stable devices you'll ever use. As a "Nexus" device, you won't find another handset in the world with this pure of an Android experience. When I first picked up a Nexus S back in April, I couldn't even explain to anyone how refreshing it was to have a device that was left completely untouched. Anyone tempted?

One-Day Exclusive Offer: Best Buy Mobile Offers All Versions of Nexus S from Google for Free on Aug. 3

Available on AT&T, Sprint and T Mobile at Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores and online. Offer runs from Aug. 2 at 11 p.m. CST to Aug. 3 at 11:59 p.m. CST
MINNEAPOLIS, August 2, 2011 - Best Buy Mobile today revealed an exclusive one-day sale on Nexus S from Google phones valid on all carriers who support the device - AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. Customers can receive a free Nexus S phone, either as a new phone or an upgrade purchase, with two-year activation at all Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores, and online at BestBuy.com/Mobile. Nexus S is a pure Google experience phone and runs Android 2.3, Gingerbread, the fastest version of Android available, and will be offered free starting tonight at 11:00 p.m. CST, through Aug. 3, at 11:59 p.m. CT. In addition to the most smartphones under one roof, including all three versions of Nexus S, Best Buy Mobile offers an array of services aimed at improving customers' experience, including Walk Out Working, Upgrade Checker, Happy 24 and a full array of accessories for customers to protect and personalize their device. About Best Buy Mobile Best Buy Mobile was founded in 2006 with a goal of changing the way consumers shop for and purchase mobile phones in America. Today, Best Buy Mobile is in every Best Buy store and also has 206 Best Buy Mobile specialty stores around the country. Best Buy Mobile features one of the largest selections of carriers, handsets and accessories available anywhere. Employees undergo at least 80 hours of intensive training, as well as continuing education on mobile phone technology and trends to help customers get the most of their mobile phones. For more information about Best Buy Mobile, visitwww.bestbuy.com/mobile or www.bestbuymobile.com. About Best Buy Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is a leading multi-channel global retailer and developer of technology products and services. Every day our employees - 180,000 strong - are committed to helping deliver the technology solutions that enable easy access to people, knowledge, ideas and fun. We are keenly aware of our role and impact on the world, and we are committed to developing and implementing business strategies that bring sustainable technology solutions to our consumers and communities. For information about Best Buy, visit www.bby.com.

Looking Forward To A Kal-El Tablet This Month? NVIDIA Pushed Them Back To October

Tim — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:30:06 +0000

There has been much anticipation around the Kal-El quad-core line of processors by NVIDIA, originally appearing to be ready for release on Android tablets in August, and later on this year for mobile phones. The world's first quad-core mobile processor, 5x faster than NVIDIA's Tegra 2, would deliver the power/power management to take mobile tech into the future. Well today, there has been a bit of sad news coming from the NVIDIA camp. Our buddies over at Android and Me got the official word from NVIDIA, that release of Kal-El devices wouldn't be happening for at least a couple more months. Bummer.

Project Kal-El-powered tablets are coming this Fall, and phones around the CES 2012 timeframe.

"Coming this Fall". It could always be worse. Looks like we will have to add NVIDIA to our list of booths to stop by during next year's CES. Project Kal-El is definitely expected to be worth the wait, and we're hoping the delay just means a better product at time of release. Is anyone shocked by the announcement of the delay of release? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aVttB25oPo[/youtube] Via: Android and Me, Fudzilla

Motorola XOOM 3G Update HTJ85 Info Posted, Could Start Rolling Out Tomorrow

Kellen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:54:35 +0000

Most of us have a pretty grasp on what is included in the Android 3.2 update for the Motorola XOOM 3G since the WiFi version and the Asus Transformer have already received it. But the official details have now been posted for you to peruse. SD card support, zooming compatibility mode, and a bunch of fixes to improve movie watching are all included in this latest 15.4MB software bundle. Our sources are under the impression that the update should start rolling out tomorrow, so Verizon XOOM owners will want to check in Settings>About tablet>System updates quite regularly over the next few days.

HandyGames Releases Tattoo Tycoon To The Android Market

Tim — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:30:59 +0000

Anyone here down for some ink? HandyGames, the makers of many well known and popular Android games, recently released Tattoo Tycoon to their extensive list of titles. If you've been a fan of those "DIY" type of games, and if you happen to be fond of body art, then you will be right at home. Object seems simple. Customize your shop with purchased furnishings, manage your employees, and make money. You play mini games to test your skills with a tattoo gun, and become more reputable in the community. Looks promising. If you wanna get a good feel for the game, then check out the video below. Let us know what you think. Market Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmpeLLFBE1k[/youtube] [gallery columns="4"]

MotoDev Site Outs Official DROID Bionic Specs: OMAP4, RAM and Screen Size All Confirmed?

Kellen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:43:14 +0000

We started hearing murmurs of the DROID Bionic popping up over at the MotoDev site yesterday as its former self, but ran into a bunch of "Access Denied" pages while snooping. Thankfully, the folks at MDW were able to give us a gateway into the site, so that we could see for ourselves and then share with all of you. Before we start talking about what we are seeing, we'll quickly shoot down the comments that are surely going to arise regarding the model number. Yes, we realize that the model number that is showing up says XT865 which is the old Bionic. Once you see the specs though, you'll quickly realize that the model number is wrong and that you should ignore it. Update: Since we've seen enough emails about it, we thought we'd address it even further. Yes, we realize that the old model number of XT865 is listed. We totally get that. What you have to realize though, is the specs that are listed, are for the NEW Bionic. The old version was a Tegra 2 with just 512MB of RAM. The new build of XT875 is an OMAP with 1GB of RAM. The Moto folks just haven't flipped the switch on the new model number yet, but have on the specs. Update 2: It looks like Moto pulled the specs, which is not surprising. And now you know why our "click here" link is an image taken from the site that will be available forever. So, what do we have?

1GHz OMAP4430 dual-core processor
1GB RAM
4.3" qHD screen
8MP rear camera (shoots 1080p video)
VGA front camera (told you that 2MP was a bad rumor)
HDMI 1.4
Android 2.3.4
Webtop capabilities
4G LTE

No real big surprises, assuming these stand at release. Still a beast though. To see the full list of specs and how it stands up to the DROID3 and Photon 4G, click here. More at the MotoDev site. Cheers Craig and Clint!

Samsung Stratosphere is Headed to Verizon, Support Page has Already Been Created

Kellen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:55:02 +0000

Verizon is preparing a phone called the Samsung Stratosphere that could be one of their big 4G LTE releases while we await the arrival of the DROID Bionic. There aren't many details to link to the device at this time, but we do know from our sources that the device will be 4G LTE and that it's looking like Big Red expects it to make a significant splash. Could it be the Samsung slider that was pictured a few weeks back? More than likely, but man are we hoping it's not. I think it's fair to say that almost all of us are praying to some higher authority that this device turns out to be the Galaxy S II. Unfortunately, I have no details to confirm either way. We should also remind you that Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha made a pretty bold statement last week about his device being the first dual-core 4G LTE phone on the planet. If the Stratosphere is indeed the Galaxy S II, then chances are we won't see it in August. And to give you further proof that this device is indeed on the way, we've spotted the support page for it that has been created well ahead of time.

This is the page you are redirected to on Verizon's support site when you attempt to visit say verizonwireless.com/stratospheresupport. The page has clearly been created, but is no longer available or hasn't been populated yet to the public. The DROID Bionic has a page like this, as does the DROID3, and LG Revolution (until a few minutes ago anyway). Verizon creates these for all new devices, so when we were redirected to an official Stratosphere support page, we knew that it wasn't just a code name. And to see what a page looks like on Verizon's site when it doesn't exist at all and there is no redirect, we have attached another picture for you:

Hopefully that made at least a little bit of sense. What we know for sure, is that a device called the Stratosphere is on the way and that it will more than likely be Verizon's next 4G LTE device. We just have to hope that it's not a rehashed version of the Epic 4G and will instead be a device to consider. Oh, and not that this really means anything, but Samsung did launch the Galaxy S II into the "stratosphere" back in June.

LG Revolution Update from Verizon is Ready: Not Gingerbread, but Does Fix a Bunch of Bugs

Kellen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:19:52 +0000

The LG Revolution on Verizon is about to receive its first major update - unfortunately it's not Gingerbread though. The 69MB update will bring users to version VS910ZV6 that includes a variety of bug fixes and a whole bunch of updated bloatware. It doesn't look incredibly major, but it will make this 4G LTE offering from LG a much more polished Bing device. With the support documents hitting VZW's site, we can expect the update to start rolling out within the next week. More info.

Soak Test for Motorola XOOM 3G to Begin this Week, Must be Android 3.2 (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:55:52 +0000

With the Motorola XOOM 3G (yes, we refuse to attach 4G to it) still running Android 3.1, while most of the rest of the tablet world has already been bumped to 3.2, we were starting to wonder if we'd ever see an update. It looks now like the update is upon us. Moto is prepping a "software test project for the Verizon-branded Motorola Xoom" that we'll just assume is Android 3.2. Update: We've been told that the update may start to roll out on 8/3. Tomorrow. Here are the changes that should come with the update:

Optimizations for a wider range of tabletsAndroid 3.2 includes a variety of optimizations across the system to ensure a great user experience on a wider range of tablet devices.

Compatibility zoom for fixed-sized appsAndroid 3.2 introduces a new compatibility zoom mode that gives users a new way to view fixed-sized apps on larger devices. The new mode provides a pixel-scaled alternative to the standard UI stretching for apps that are not designed to run on larger screen sizes, such as on tablets. The new mode is accessible to users from a menu icon in the system bar, for apps that need compatibility support.

Media sync from SD cardOn devices that support an SD card, users can now load media files directly from the SD card to apps that use them. A system facility makes the files accessible to apps from the system media store.

We'll be on the lookout for any additional details. Cheers C and R!

New Android Trojan Can Record Calls, We Remind You Again to Avoid Shady 3rd Party Markets

Kellen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:45:03 +0000

CA Technologies discovered a new type of Android Trojan that drops a "config" file onto your device after being installed that can record phone conversations. "ZOMG! The world is coming to an end!" Yeah, that was extreme sarcasm. You see, with no major device releases expected this week, we've resorted to talking about stories like this. Stories of random malware/trojans that another security company has discovered in an app from an unknown source that could ruin your day should it get installed. Of course, you would have to visit another of those shady 3rd party app stores that hawk paid apps for free in order for this to go down, but you already know that. So what do we make of this? As we have already mentioned a half dozen times now, AVOID SHADY 3RD PARTY APP STORES. Support your damn developers in legitimate markets. Via: CA, ZDNet

Another Potential Official DROID Bionic Twitter Account Joins the Party

Kellen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:40:07 +0000

Anyone up for following another potential official DROID Bionic Twitter account? The one that many are considering to be the real deal sent out the tweet you are seeing above, last night, punctuation error and all. They only follow three other official accounts (Motorola, Verizon Wireless and @DroidLanding) which is why most of us assume this is probably legit. Their trail of tweets is also pretty specific and formal enough to at least give it a look. September is just around the corner, are we all ready? Or are you all hoping to find out more on the HTC Vigor?

Honeycomb Beta Released to Logitech Revue - Flash, But Flash Carefully

Kellen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:59:52 +0000

If anyone jumped on the $99 Logitech Revue deal from yesterday, then feel free to crank it up a notch to the brand new Honeycomb build that has been leaked by the folks over at GTVHacker. There is no way to return back to stock if you go ahead and flash this, nor do we know if you'll be able to update to an official build afterwards, so we'll have to tell you to proceed with caution. The instructions can be found at the source link below. But even if you don't feel like jumping the gun, be sure to watch the video below which gives a full walk-through of this new version of Google TV. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsIhD442Jzg[/youtube] Via: GTVHacker Cheers Steve and to everyone else!

DROIDX2 Gingerbread Update Available to All...Right Now

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:37:44 +0000

The Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) update for the DROIDX2 is live right now for everyone to download. To pull the update, simply do the following:

Menu>Settings>About phone>System updates

Enjoy! Cheers Tpags for the heads up!

DROID Bionic, HTC Vigor and New LG LTE Device Land on Verizon's MAP List

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:53:25 +0000

Just when we thought August was going to be a slow month around these Verizon parts, we get slapped with their latest MAP (minimum advertised price) list that includes some pretty major players. The first one we'll talk briefly about is in position 1 as the Motorola MOTXT875, which many of you may know as the brand new DROID Bionic. But since we've been told that it won't be out until September, let us quickly move on to devices that could be out before it ever sees a store shelf that are also on the list. I'd say that the most important and intriguing device that we should point out is in position 3 as HTC ADR6425, which many of us were first introduced to last week as the HTC Vigor. To refresh, this would be the device with the 720p resolution, the 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor and the brand new Adreno 220 GPU. Yep, if those specs actually do come true, then we're looking at one of the most powerful and impressive devices on the planet. The next device we should take a look at is the LG-VS920 which could be the follow-up to the Revolution (already). The original Revolution is model number LG-VS910, so this easily seems like some sort of a new build. It has received it's Bluetooth certification already and definitely has LTE capabilities. Revo 2, anyone? And the last device to point out is ADR6330, which we know nothing about. What we do know is that the model number sort of matches up to the Incredible line, so it could be the silver and white edition that we saw this morning? Well maybe, except that the Incredible 2 that you can buy now is ADR6350. It almost seems to be a device below the Incredible 2, but what could it be? We've heard rumors of a new HTC global roaming device with a keyboard similar to the Merge - could this be it? A lot of questions for a bunch of devices, that so far, we don't know much about. So when should we expect some of them to arrive? MAP listings aren't necessarily good gauges for a release, but they are at least a sign that we should see them sooner rather than later. With no current plans that we know of for August from Verizon, we wouldn't be surprised if we see at least one of these in the next few weeks, before the Bionic drops. We're hoping to know more very soon. Should get interesting... Cheers ___!

Justice Department Making Sure Nortel Patents Weren't Purchased Simply to Hobble Smartphones Running Android

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:39:01 +0000

I'll just start this off by quoting Eric Schmidt again, since the state of the tech world couldn't have been described any better:

“We have seen an explosion of Android devices entering the market and, because of our successes, competitors are responding with lawsuits as they cannot respond through innovations."

To follow that up, we wanted to point out that the Justice Department is ramping up its probe over the purchase of Nortel's some 6,000 patents by Rockstar Bidco (Apple, RIM, Microsoft, Ericsson, Sony, and EMC) and whether or not this group acquired them to simply attack Android smartphones. If we take a look at that group, it would certainly appear as if they had no other reason, but we'll leave that to the government to decide. Back in April, the Justice Department stepped in to thwart another consortium of companies (Apple, Oracle and Microsoft) from using their recently acquired patent portfolio to unfairly hurt rivals. All we can hope for is a similar outcome, so that we can get on with our smartphone infested lives. All I really know though, is that I'm sick of seeing a new lawsuit filed each day by Apple against another company. Via: WSJ Cheers jeesung!

Mobile Payments Coming to Verizon Phones Courtesy of Serve by American Express

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:03:31 +0000

Verizon and American Express announced a partnership today that will bring their Serve payment platform to your smartphone. Instead of worrying about credit cards to make purchases, you will soon be able to input your phone number to bill goods and services to your VZW account. While Google has its new Wallet application that uses NFC technology, this new Serve payment system can do it all without having any extra hardware built into your phone. All you will apparently need is a phone number and a Serve account. Once set up, you could send money wirelessly to your broke, couch-surfing friends, buy a new massive-collared club shirt with dragon decal, or snatch up tickets to the Rosé festival for you and your salmon-colored boat shoes - all without lifting your plastic. See, the possibilities are endless. Expected rollout should happen over the "coming months."

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwA0R2NNxRs[/youtube]

More info.

VERIZON TO INTEGRATE AMERICAN EXPRESS’ SERVE ON WIRELESS PHONES AND TABLETS
Verizon Wireless customers to have access to simple and easy mobile payments powered by Serve, American Express’ new digital payment platform American Express (NYSE: AXP) and Verizon Wireless today announced they will integrate Serve, a next-generation digital payment and commerce platform, on many Verizon mobile phones and tablets. Over the coming months, Verizon Wireless customers will be able to establish Serve accounts that will enable them to make payments and redeem offers for goods and services directly from their mobile phones and tablets using Serve. Serve simplifies the online checkout experience by authenticating a mobile number, then allowing a customer to make a purchase on-screen. Verizon Wireless customers who use Serve can expect to buy goods and services on their mobile phone in just a few clicks. Merchants who accept Serve mobile payments will enjoy a streamlined option for processing and settlement. The Serve card is currently accepted by the millions of merchants in the United States who accept American Express. American Express and Verizon Wireless will also collaborate to source, distribute and simplify redemption of online and mobile offers with participating merchants through the use of the Serve account. For example, as customers redeem certain offers or coupons using their mobile phones, the credit may automatically appear in their Serve account. The two companies are also working with Payfone to support Serve checkout on Verizon Wireless devices. Payfone's pre-authorization and intelligent routing features will help Verizon Wireless customers who use the Serve application make mobile payments simply and securely. “Our collaboration with Verizon highlights the speed at which Serve is evolving to reach a wide audience,” said Dan Schulman, group president, Enterprise Growth, American Express. “Verizon Wireless customers will soon be able to complement their busy lifestyle with a trusted payment platform that delivers a fast, flexible and secure way to manage their day-to-day mobile purchases, and together we’re taking the necessary steps to make mobile commerce a reality.” Greg Haller, president, Enterprise & Government for Verizon Wireless, said, “Serve provides a quick and intuitive way for our customers to use their mobile service in a refreshingly convenient way. Our commitment to building the entire mobile payments ecosystem, through our Isis joint venture and now with Serve, gives customers incredible new ways to use their mobile devices.” Merchants who are interested in accepting mobile payments through Serve and Verizon can learn more at www.serve.com/billmyphone. About American Express American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, twitter.com/americanexpress and youtube.com/americanexpress. American Express recently launched Serve, a next generation payments platform designed to deliver emerging payments and services to address the changing ways consumers interact and exchange money -- with one another -- as well as merchants. Learn more at serve.com and connect with us on facebook.com/paywithserve andtwitter.com/serve. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 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.

Monday Poll: Suggestions for the Name of the Next Version of Android?

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:00:32 +0000

Cupcake. Donut. Eclair. Froyo. Gingerbread. Honeycomb. Ice Cream Sandwich. J.... What could possibly be next? We still have a few months to go before we even see ICS on a device, but you have to think that Google is already planning the version to follow it. And since we're all assuming it will start with a "J", we wanted to ask that DL readers give some suggestions. Will it be Jawbreaker? Jelly Bean? Jolly Rancher? Unlike the letter "I", there are plenty of options to go with. Let's hear some!

Atrix Running Stock Android 2.3.4 has been Rooted, DROID3 Up Next?

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:32:41 +0000

Over the weekend, we were tipped to instructions that had been released for rooting the Motorola Atrix running stock, locked Android 2.3.4 - something that had previously not been accomplished on any non-Nexus device. And once we found out, we started doing our best to spread the word, but thought we should also let all of you know, here on the site. You see, the more we get people talking about it, the more likely we are to find someone who can make it happen for our friend the DROID3 which could also lead to the rooting of the DROID Bionic. We're expecting both devices to be running almost identical software on very, very similar hardware. There is talk that we may need an SBF in order to accomplish root, but our friend @P3Droid thinks he may be close without one. You'll want to keep it close, as we'll be all over this story. Atrix owners, you'll want to head over to this RootzWiki thread for instructions. Cheers jigga_z!

Logitech Revue Drops to $99, Anyone Ready to Try Out Google TV?

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:21:33 +0000

If Google TV was something that looked interesting to you back in 2010, but the price and lack of an app market turned you off, then maybe now you'll want to reconsider. The Logitech Revue has been dropped to just $99 from $249, making this one heck of a steal. The original price back at launch was $299, so you are essentially getting a GTV box for a third of its original price not even a year after it became available. I will mention that I've had the Sony version with a Blu-ray player since the day it launched and can't say that I use it much anymore. Sure, it's convenient if I need to look something up on Google quickly and my phone isn't handy, but for the most part, the experience is not as polished as you would expect it to be. It definitely has uses, just not as many as we'd have all hoped for from the beginning. With that said though, the re-launch of Google TV, based off of Honeycomb, should be here in the next month or so. Once that happens, the platform will essentially be brought back from the dead with the Android Market, apps and a whole new UI. From some of the leaks that have popped up around the internet, along with some of the stuff we saw at Google I/O, I'll even admit that I'm excited to see where the future of it is headed. Buy. Cheers Dustin, Brett and everyone else!

Verizon Begins New Tablet Promo for August, Buy a Smartphone and Receive $50 Off a Tablet (Updated)

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:35:11 +0000

Since it's looking like Verizon may not have a big device launch in August thanks to another delay on the DROID Bionic, they appear to be tossing out promos left and right to try and make up for it. We wrote up their new wireless charging accessory promo earlier this morning, but have another one that might grab the attention of those of you in the tablet buying market. For the month of August, Verizon will give you a $50 discount on any tablet (except the iPad 1 or WiFi Galaxy Tab 10.1) as long as you buy a new phone and sign a new 2-year contract. It's not 100% clear if you can only use that $50 discount on a contracted tablet ~~or if you can use it to buy one outright at full retail~~, but our sources are telling us that it may be for 2-year tablet contracts only. Update: We've confirmed that both devices are required to be on contract in order for you to get the $50 off.

Will this get you to pick up the Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE? Cheers ___!

Silver and White DROID Incredible 2 in the Works?

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:50:32 +0000

Anyone interested in a white and silver DROID Incredible 2? We had assumed from release that there would be swappable back covers for even the original Inc2, but this latest picture shows a much shinier, silver edition that has yet to see an announcement from Verizon or HTC. There are no new specs to report on since this device popped up out of now where, but we're assuming it'll be the same as its predecessor - the back cover doesn't say "4G LTE" or anything to get us extremely excited. Could this be what they plan to fill up the month of August with? Any chance we see a spec-bump? Via: PocketNow

Superhero and Villain Android Mini Collectibles Available Now

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:32:53 +0000

Go! Go! Go! They likely won't be available for long... Buy.

Download: Fully Working FM Radio App for the DROID3

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:15:19 +0000

If you were disappointed to learn that your brand new DROID3 did not have an FM radio app pre-installed, then you'll want to thank the DROID2, Incredible or some other previous Android phone that had one available for pulling. Over the weekend, a group of community members realized that the file we've attached below, can be installed and will then run flawlessly on your D3. With FM capabilities already built in, it seems like this should have come pre-loaded. Oh well though, now you have it anyway. Download: FMRadio.apk To install - simply download the file, tap on it when it finishes, tap "Install" and then enjoy. Via: XDA Cheers Lonnie and Adam!

Verizon Deal: Buy a Wireless Charging Pad, Receive Battery Cover for Free

Kellen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 07:30:17 +0000

Either Verizon hasn't sold many of these inductive (wireless) battery charging pads and covers or they are finally ready to force you into learning about this new technology. Through August's "Accessory of the Month" deal, you can buy the wireless charging pad ($69.99) that they have on hand and receive the wireless battery cover for a select few devices for free - all normally priced from $29.99 - $39.99. What is wireless charging? Well, if you have a pad and battery cover, you can easily charge your device without having to actually plug in your device. Sure, the charging pad will always have to be plugged into a wall, but I'll even admit that it is pretty handy to come home and simply set my Thunderbolt down on my desk to get it to charge rather than fuss with a microUSB cable. So if you have a DROID3, HTC Thunderbolt, LG Revolution, DROID Charge, or Incredible 2, you may want to look into the future of charging and grab one of these pads along with a matching inductive battery cover.

Buy. Cheers nick!

Capital One Releases Android App: Pay Bills, View Recent Transactions, Check Balances

Kellen — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 09:30:24 +0000

This seems like one of those apps that should have been out months or even a year ago, but we'll still welcome it in with open arms. Capital One has finally made an Android app available and for the most part, it looks pretty feature packed. You can check balances to both checking accounts and credit cards, pay bills, view rewards information and almost any other mobile banking feature you can think of. To gain access, simply use the same login information that is attached to your online Capital One account.

Pay bills
Transfer funds between banking accounts
Check balances
Find ATMs and branches
View Rewards information
View recent transactions
Contact customer service

Tablet support should be on the way soon. Market Link Via: Android Police

Rooted Gingerbread Available for DROIDX2

Kellen — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:56:32 +0000

With the new Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) build for the DROIDX2 arriving to soak test members, we also welcome in a pre-rooted version for those of you who wish to continue on with superuser access. Our buddy @P3droid put in work as he always does to make sure you can all stay current without losing root, something that has yet to be officially gained on 2.3 builds for any Motorola device. What I mean by that, is if you update to 2.3 and lose root, there are no current methods to root except to SBF back to 2.2 and then install a pre-rooted build. Update: I stand corrected, the Atrix on 2.3.4 has been rooted. The good news is that you can apparently (haven't tested myself) still SBF back to 2.2 even on this latest 2.3 build for the DX2. We had a feeling that Moto would lock us out, but they have at least left us one ounce of rooting safety. Go get some! Download: DX2-Patched GB update.zip Instructions: 1. Download the file from above and drop it on your SD card. 2. Root your DROIDX2 using Gingerbreak. [Instructions] 3. Bootstrap the recovery using the DX2 bootstrap app. [Instructions] 4. Once you have bootstrapped, "reboot into recovery." 5. Once in recovery, it would be wise to create a new backup.

Backup and Restore>Backup

6. Then choose "install zip from sd card." 7. Then select the file from your SD card that you downloaded above. 8. Run it and enjoy the update! A big thanks to the crew at MyDroidWorld for releasing this. Cheers Adam, Cliff and everyone else!

Ubermusic Finally Lands on Android Market, Get Your Pretty Groove On

Kellen — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:03:45 +0000

Our buddy Fede, whom you all know from LauncherPro, has made his new music played called Ubermusic official. You can find it in the market as one of the best music players we've used, at least UI-wise that is. It doesn't have the ability to sync with your Google Music account, but there's no telling if Google will ever open up access to things like that to 3rd party app makers. If you are storing music on your phone though, this is one heck of an option (but definitely not the cheapest). With its buttery smooth UX and minimalist UI, automatic album art, variety of widget sizes, and scrobbling - we're loving it. No longer free now that it is out of beta. Market Link ($3.49) [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Cheers Anish and Scott!

AT&T Joins the Throttling Party, Plans to Slow Down Its Top Data Hogs

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:39:29 +0000

Verizon started throttling their top dog data hogs back in February (top 5% of users) and caught a whole bunch of flack for it. You can now toss some of the same choice words you directed at Big Red over to AT&T as they have now confirmed a report from this morning that suggested they would begin to throttle the top 5% of their unlimited data users as well. So let us try to clarify for you - users who pay an ungodly amount of money to continue to have unlimited data (because AT&T has tiers), no longer get to fully take advantage of that unlimited data? Correct. Well, to be fair, the unlimited data isn't going away, but the way in which you get to enjoy it, is. Sounds reasonable...right...no. But just so you know, this is only a temporary fix. That's right. In order to fix the problem permanently, they will need their T-Mobile merger to be approved. And yes, it's OK for you to fall on the floor laughing now.

An Update for Our Smartphone Customers With Unlimited Data Plans Like other wireless companies, we’re taking steps to manage exploding demand for mobile data. Many experts agree the country is facing a serious wireless spectrum crunch. We’re responding on many levels, including investing billions in our wireless network this year and working to acquire additional network capacity. We’re also taking additional, more immediate measures to help address network congestion. One new measure is a step that may reduce the data throughput speed experienced by a very small minority of smartphone customers who are on unlimited plans – those whose extraordinary level of data usage puts them in the top 5 percent of our heaviest data users in a billing period. In fact, these customers on average use 12 times more data than the average of all other smartphone data customers. This step will not apply to our 15 million smartphone customers on a tiered data plan or the vast majority of smartphone customers who still have unlimited data plans. Starting October 1, smartphone customers with unlimited data plans may experience reduced speeds once their usage in a billing cycle reaches the level that puts them among the top 5 percent of heaviest data users. These customers can still use unlimited data and their speeds will be restored with the start of the next billing cycle. Before you are affected, we will provide multiple notices, including a grace period. This change will never impact the vast majority of our customers, and is designed to create a better service experience for all. The amount of data usage of our top 5 percent of heaviest users varies from month to month, based on the usage of others and the ever-increasing demand for mobile broadband services. To rank among the top 5 percent, you have to use an extraordinary amount of data in a single billing period. There will be no changes for the vast majority of customers. It’s not how much time you spend using your device, it’s what you do with it. You can send or receive thousands of emails, surf thousands of Web pages and watch hours of streaming video every month and not be in the top 5 percent of data users. Typically what puts someone in the top 5 percent is streaming very large amounts of video and music daily over the wireless network, not Wi-Fi. Streaming video apps, remote web camera apps, sending large data files (like video) and some online gaming are examples of applications that can use data quickly. Using Wi-Fi doesn’t create wireless network congestion or count toward your wireless data usage. AT&T smartphone customers have unlimited access to our entire Wi-Fi network, with more than 26,000 hotspots, at no additional cost. They can also use Wi-Fi at home and in the office. The bottom line is our customers have options. They can choose to stay on their unlimited plans and use unlimited amounts of data, but may experience reduced speeds at some point if they are an extraordinarily heavy data user. If speed is more important, they may wish to switch to a tiered usage plan, where customers can pay for more data if they need it and will not see reduced speeds. But even as we pursue this additional measure, it will not solve our spectrum shortage and network capacity issues. Nothing short of completing the T-Mobile merger will provide additional spectrum capacity to address these near term challenges.

LetsTalk Offering Up the DROID3 for Free this Weekend to New Customers

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:21:14 +0000

If you are looking to get yourself into Verizon's hottest phone at the moment, the DROID3, you may want to check out the deal from LetsTalk that is going on this weekend. The device can be had for as little as nothing if you purchase it as a new customer. Not a bad deal for one of our favorite phones of the year from Big Red. Our review can be seen here. Buy. Don't forget though, that the D3 is still a part of Verizon's BOGO (buy one get one free) back to school offer. You may have to shell out $200, but you'll also get a second device for free. Cheers rocktoonz!

Peel Released on Android, Finding Your Favorite TV Shows Became A Lot Easier

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:41:39 +0000

If you needed a new way to find and discover your favorite shows, then you'll want to check out Peel which just made its way onto Android after being download over a million times on iOS. The app can show you favorite programs, recommend similar shows, provide brief descriptions, remind you when they are on, and even allow you to share them with friends. Their PR department explains it much better:

Peel uses a recommendation engine developed by a finalist from Netflix's algorithm contest making it an intuitive application that adapts to your viewing habits. Peel offers a visual touchscreen guide that enables you to like or dislike shows, as well as set up reminders and share your finds and your favorites with friends via Twitter and Facebook. The more you use the app, the more customized and better it gets at predicting what you want to watch.

After just a few minutes of time with it, I can tell you that the UI is looking mighty polished, it allowed me to set everything up quickly by choosing my cable provider, and is already recommending programs. Oh, and it's free. Market Link

Peel Simplifies TV Creating a New Generation of Channel Surfing SANTA CLARA, Calif. – July 21, 2011 – Peel, the company dedicated to changing the way you watch TV, announced today the release of their smartphone app for Android phones making it easy to find and discover favorite shows. Peel for Android displays custom tailored programming recommendations in an intuitive and elegant fashion eliminating the need to scroll through channel-listing grids. The app’s home screen displays colorful thumbnails of “Top Picks,” or favorite shows. Touch one of the thumbnails and the app displays what channel that show is on as well as a brief description of the episode that is playing. Alternatively, users can swipe across the screen to explore more shows sorted by genre. As you interact with the app, Peel learns what you like and helps you discover new shows that suit your tastes. With that, Peel moves the channel surfing experience to the smartphone, leaving the television screen available to display programming. “Offering Peel to Android users furthers our reach and philosophy, it's not about what channel or network a show is on, it's about the shows themselves,” said Greg Lindley, chief experience officer for Peel. “Peel is designed to get to the heart of what the user likes by using a unique customization engine that recommends shows based off of user interaction.” “As the lead Android engineer for Peel I am very excited to be able to bring our application to a whole new audience,” said Hong Wu, Senior Software Engineer at Peel. “Now both Android and iPhone users can enjoy the Peel experience of show recommendation and never having to waste time channel surfing again.” Within the app, you can set reminders, so you will never miss the beginning of a show. There is also a search feature that allows users to quickly find what network a particular game or program is on. Peel provides a social aspect as well, allowing you to share what you are watching via Facebook and Twitter. Setting up the Peel app takes just a few minutes. Peel isolates where you are, which cable or satellite provider you are using and your basic TV preferences such as favorite show genres and sports. Once set up, the app immediately begins delivering tailored TV recommendations. Availability The free Peel app is available for Android users on the 2.0 operating system or higher. To download the app visit: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.peel.app The app is also available for iPhone and iPod touch® and can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store by visiting: http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/app/peel/id384977370?mt=8#ls=1 About Peel Peel was founded around passion for making the home entertainment experience friendlier. Combining program discovery, simple and seamless universal control and shared entertainment experiences steps beyond simple remote controls and changes the TV landscape. For more information visit http://www.Peel.com.

Friday Poll: Must Have Android Apps of the Last Month are?

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:24:51 +0000

Every six weeks or so we like to poll the readers of Droid Life to see which apps they have discovered and can no longer live without. Quality apps seem to be coming at us in waves these days, making it difficult for everyone to keep up with what's garbage and what is "must have." So as usual, we want you to drop as many of your favorite new apps in the comments. The three we seem to be using the most are DeskSMS (Koush's new baby) which allows you to send and receive texts through either Gmail or Gtalk. We've also come to realize that we are more-than addicted to Fieldrunners HD and haven't been able to put it down. And of course Pool Party, now that we have some friends who have moved out of 1999 and into the world of tech. You guys?

Google Search Experience on Tablets Gets a Makeover, Simplification is the Theme

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:39:50 +0000

The Google mobile team is at it again - this time with a simplified search experience for tablets. To quote them, they have "increased the size of page contents like text, buttons and other touch targets to make it faster and easier to browse and interact with" which makes complete sense after looking at a quick result for droid life. And also, as you can see in the screenshot above, the overall look has become much less cluttered making content much easier to absorb.

The updated search page will roll out to Andoid 3.1+ and iPad devices in the "coming days," but could be there for you already. Via: Google Mobile

DROIDX2 Gingerbread Update Hits Soak Test Members, Here is a First Look

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:32:39 +0000

The DROIDX2 Gingerbread update is only rolling out to members of Motorola's soak test at this time, and we've got a first look at it thanks to the amazing group of readers we have here at Droid Life. Verizon's support tweeted yesterday that the update was rolling out, but we haven't heard from anyone not in the test group that has received it (that includes our device). The full rollout will likely begin some time this weekend assuming there are no major bugs found during this initial test. So what do we have inside? Well, it's only Android 2.3.3 which means that you won't see the fancy new 3D-esque Blur or lockscreen that can be found on the DROID3 and DROID Bionic. It did update the icon set to match those two devices, but for the most part, will look exactly like the previous version of blue Blur that you all had on 2.2.2. Gingerbread though, is unbelievably good. You'll more than likely notice immediately that your phone is faster and more stable thanks to the tweaks that have been made by the Android team. Below, we have a benchmark, the About screen and a couple of additional looks to tide you over until the mass rollout starts. [gallery link="file" orderby="ID"] Cheers D, R and everyone else!

Music Beta by Google Gives Users Invites - You Must Choose, But Choose Wisely

Kellen — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 07:58:54 +0000

Google Music (or Music Beta by Google) is flat out awesome. In its current state, members are allowed to upload their entire music collection (20,000 songs) at no cost and then stream it through their Android devices or computers as much as they'd like - unlimited, really. The only problem has been a lack of an invite system since the service is not necessarily wide open for everyone to join. Today, they have sort of changed that by allowing each user (well, except me for some reason) the option to invite 2 friends. Once you login, you should see a new note under the "music beta" logo with a number for how many invites you have left. Might want to be picky though, two isn't a large number and I'm sure you have plenty of friends who would like to get in on this win. Cheers to everyone who sent this!

DROID3 Hotter Than Expected? Sold Out Online in Verizon's Shop

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:59:55 +0000

It looks like that BOGO offer for the DROID3 is doing the trick, as the device already appears to be sold out online in Verizon's shop. Even without a 4G LTE radio, the device most definitely has a set of future-proof specs that are helping it to apparently sell like hot cakes. As the third edition of one of the most successful Android devices of all time, this is a good sign that Motorola and Verizon may have finally released a winner in 2011. We reviewed the device and have had mostly positive things to say about it. While the screen and custom software on it may not impress die-hard enthusiasts, it's easy to admit that the DROID3 is Big Red's best phone at the moment. To see more of our thoughts, be sure to read our review of the DROID3.

Gmail App for Android Receives Update to 2.3.5, Performance Improvements and Custom Label Notifications Included

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:16:28 +0000

Wow, a Gmail update; haven't seen one of these since February. Today's is greatly welcomed though, and includes a pretty solid list of new enhancements. You can now set up separate notification sounds for labels and also tell your account to remember to "Show Pictures" for specific senders (thank you!). There are other tweaks, and we've listed them for you below. Changelog:

Save bandwidth and battery by only syncing priority mail
Use label notifications to mash up filters, labels, and ringtones
Remember "Show Pictures" for senders
Turn off sticky message actions in landscape or all orientations
Better TalkBack support for accessibility
Performance improvements

Market Link

Asus Transformer Update to Android 3.2 Rolling Out Now

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:47:21 +0000

The Asus Transformer update to Android 3.2 is finally live! Asus let the world know yesterday that we could expect it some time today, and that time appears to be now. Go get some! Cheers James and Brett!

Can We Assume That Verizon's Galaxy S II is Either Not 4G LTE or Not Launching in August?

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:13:48 +0000

I know what you are thinking, "Where the hell are you getting this idea from?" We're just putting two and two together here, folks. Our CEO friend Sanjay Jha just said on Motorola's Q2 earnings call that his DROID Bionic will launch in September as the first phone on the planet that has both dual-core and 4G LTE parts. Since we all know that the Galaxy S II has a dual-core processor, that would lead us to believe that the device will either not launch in August or will be 3G-only. Disappointed? Me too. Now, obviously Jha has no affiliation with Samsung, so they could come out and surprise us all in the next few weeks. However, calling his device the "first" is a pretty bold statement that a person in his position would not make unless they had pretty solid knowledge of the future. If Moto had any idea that Samsung were going to swoop in and steal that title, I doubt he would have said such words. Update: As many of you are pointing out, Jha also said the same thing with the XOOM and we know what happened there. I will just say that I would be incredibly surprised to see him not deliver on such a statement the second time around. They already have investors and analysts questioning their position in this industry - it wouldn't be in their best interest to make bold predictions like this at this out point without fully expecting to deliver on them. So you know though, Samsung has an earnings call in just a few more hours - maybe we'll find out something juicy then. And I don't know about you guys, but I'll take a push to September just to make sure the device is 4G. Stay tuned... Cheers to @capn774 for pointing this out!

Motorola: We'll Have Another LTE Phone and 2 New LTE Tablets by the End of the Year

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:25:25 +0000

With the release time frame of the DROID Bionic now out of the way, we can start focusing on what Motorola has for us in the future. CEO Sanjay Jha in today's Q2 earnings call, would not go into intimate details (not that we were expecting him to), but he did mention his company's plans to release all sorts of LTE products throughout the rest of the year, bringing their total to "at least" 5 devices. Aside from the Bionic being the first dual-core 4G LTE device, Motorola will also release another LTE phone and 2 LTE tablets (not counting the original XOOM). No mention of a carrier, but one would have to assume that at least one of these new devices will head to Verizon as the only carrier with a substantially established LTE network. AT&T is supposed to be launching their first LTE test market some time this summer, but are not expecting devices other than hotspots to run on it until late 2011. Could the other phone be the new AT&T device that popped up yesterday? Possibly. Do these two tablets include the XOOM2 which has been spotted a couple of times now? Or maybe one will be a 7" tablet to try and widen their portfolio? Should be an interesting finish to 2011 for Motorola, especially with all of the frustrations of the first half of the year. And let's not forget, other than new devices, we still have bootloaders to talk about along with some major releases from other companies.

Motorola CEO: DROID Bionic Will Be In Stores in September

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:09:24 +0000

There you have it, straight from the top dog's mouth. Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha in an earnings call today confirmed that the DROID Bionic will not be coming out until September. Like we told you the yesterday, those Benjamins can go back in your pocket for a few weeks while we await the official arrival which will not be August 4. We started hearing about 9/1 as a potential launch date back around July 16 followed by leaked screenshots from companies like Sam's Club suggesting the same - thanks to Sanjay today, we now know that time frame to be true. Here is the quote from the call:

"We want to ensure that we deliver an exceptional consumer experience. Bionic will be the first device to deliver the combination of the power of LTE and a dual-core GHz processor. And it will be in the stores in September."

Developing...

Motorola To Release An iPod Nano? Wait, That's Not Right

Tim — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:20:40 +0000

This is the Nano to reinvent the Nano. Motorola is possibly producing an "all-in-one fitness and music personal fitness device". Try saying that 5 times fast. We're guessing Moto thinks they can put their own spin on this idea and possibly make it better, even though it looks exactly like the competitions. It does have a couple redeeming qualities though: GPS, for accurate workout stats, wireless sync to PC (and Android devices), and even has an awesome watch band attachment. Err, scratch that. Even more curious, is that this could be the device we saw way back in May on the supposed XOOM2 site? Who's looking forward to a probable release of the "MotoActive"? Feel free to trash talk or praise it in the comments section below. Via: Engadget

Bloo Kid on Android Brings Back Some Retro Gaming Memories, And That's a Good Thing

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:47:03 +0000

Gaming on Android certainly seems to be here in full force these days. We just posted up a new title called The Marbians earlier for the new school kids on the block that should be a hit, and are back with one more for those of us born well before the 90s. The developer is calling Bloo Kid a "retro-style arcade platformer with cute pixelart" which is fine and all; we're just here to tell you that it is awesome. If you like the 3-star rating system that we have seen on games like Cut the Rope, Angry Birds, etc., then this will fill that void but in a much more interesting way. The idea is pretty simple. You jump on top of enemies to destroy them, try not to get hurt, and then collect a superstar at the end to finish up with a 3-star rating. There are dozens of different bad guys, 60 levels (with more on the way), and a soundtrack that is sure to bring back some memories. Oh, and did I mention that it's free? Market Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRrDDLYoFF0[/youtube]

The Marbians Crash Land On The Android Market

Tim — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:00:35 +0000

You can not reword that title anyway to make it more fitting. We gave you a preview of The Marbians on Monday, and people had mixed feelings. Well The Marbians are here now, so give it a go and see what you think. For the price of zero dollars and zero cents, you can't really argue or not at least be a bit curious. For the players who get hooked though, there is a in-app purchase of just $0.99 that will unlock 64 other levels for you. After playing most of the first box, this is definitely going in the same category as Cut the Rope. Graphics are fun and lighthearted, and the music even got stuck in my head for a bit. One thing it's lacking right off the bat is OpenFeint integration. Rest assured that could easily be added in an update. Go help some Marbians and let us know what you think. Market Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc4yzgkQZ_Y[/youtube]

Samsung Galaxy S II U.S. Sign-up Page Goes Live!

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:24:56 +0000

Who wants the latest on the Samsung Galaxy S II here in the U.S.? Head on over to Samsung's site now then and register to receive word on when this beast of a phone will be landing stateside. And, yeah...that's pretty much it. We could fill this up with speculation as to when the device will actual arrive, but truthfully, no one has any idea. Sign up here. Via: Phandroid

Samsung Fascinate ED05 Update is Ready, Fixes Incoming Call Issue

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:52:53 +0000

Within the last hour or so, we notified Samsung Fascinate owners that they could potentially take their device into a Verizon store if it was having trouble receiving calls and exchange it for a different certified like-new device. So much for that idea. A new 10MB update should be pushing to Fascinates in the next few days that will fix that nagging incoming call issue along with a couple of SMS bugs. The new version is ED05. Let us know if you see it! Cheers @CodyBeckleyGCS!

Verizon Swapping Out Faulty Fascinates for DROIDX2, Incredible 2 and DROID Charge? (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:06:13 +0000

Update: Our friends at Verizon have reached out to tell us that this is no longer happening. Since the ED05 update is going out and will fix the issue, there is no need for a swap. If your Samsung Fascinate is suffering from an inability to accept calls after receiving its latest update, then you may be entitled to a certified like-new replacement from Verizon. According to reports, Big Red is willing to hand over a DROIDX2, Incredible 2 or DROID Charge if they deem your phone to be worthless. So, to the Fascinate owners in the building that have been more than frustrated with their devices after receiving ED04 because it broke one its primary functions, head on into a store. Via: Engadget

Thursday Poll: What future spec are you most looking forward to in phones?

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 09:32:58 +0000

Today we are going hypothetical on you. The future of phone technology is changing so swiftly that most of us can't even keep up. By the time the first dual-core phone was released this year, we were already talking about quad-cores. The term "qHD" became the it word of the year back at CES, but could potentially be passed up in the same year by full HD. We've seen concepts of flexible screens, operating systems that may have on-screen buttons rather than physical, and some of the thinnest designs ever. If I had mentioned all of this stuff in 2010, most people would have laughed, but now, these new technologies are almost upon us. As usual though, we like to make you decide which of these would be the most important to you should a phone pop up with many of the things I just listed, in tow. Do you need more power? A bigger screen? Longer battery life? The thinnest phone on the planet? Or more RAM to handle your usage? [poll id="92"] Photo by admost.photo.lab via Concept Phones.

White Samsung Galaxy S II Headed to Europe, Anyone Interested in One?

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:25:10 +0000

Ahhh yes, the wonderful world of choices. If an all-white Samsung Galaxy S II was sitting next to the original black version, which would you choose? Euro Android enthusiasts will soon run into this predicament, as Samsung prepares to release the latest version of the hottest selling device of the year. It'll come packed with everything you'd expect it to - 1.2GHz Orion processor, 1GB RAM, dual cameras, Gingerbread, and of course, that beautiful 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus screen. No telling if this will ever make it stateside, but I would bet that it'll make it to Canada to then be imported by someone like Expansys. Update: Here is another shot, including the back:

What do you guys think? Via: Mobile Fun, Android and Me

Verizon Support: DROIDX2 Gingerbread Update Starts Rolling Out Today

Kellen — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 07:47:00 +0000

According to Verizon support and contrary to reports yesterday, the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update for the DROIDX2 should start rolling out today in batches and will continue on until everyone has it. We just checked ours and it's not there yet, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be checking like mad. The update, at least in pictures, appears to include the brand new version of Blur that can be seen on the DROID3 and Bionic, along with a whole batch of bug fixes. We've been told that the soak test for Motorola's private group has begun today, so it wouldn't surprise us if the mass rollout did not start until Friday. You can view the entire changelog for this update here. To check to see if the update is available to you, do the following:

Menu>Settings>About phone>System updates

*Note - If you are rooted and a DX2 owner, accepting this update might not be the best idea if you plan on being rooted ever again. So far, 2.3 on the DX and D3 have not been rooted. (Cheers for the reminder Lonnie!) Cheers Dylan!

AT&T and Motorola Prepping a Sequel to the Atrix with a 720p HD Screen?

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:56:51 +0000

Remember just a few weeks ago when a photo was found on Flickr to have been taken with a Motorola DROID HD? That phone may have just surfaced overseas in a massive gallery as ME865, but sporting an AT&T logo and looking a heck of a lot like the Atrix. The blog that posted these or at least is analyzing them, claims that this device is the DROID HD (except that we know DROID is exclusive to Verizon) and will sport a 720p HD screen (720×1280 resolution). Yowzaz. The screen certainly looks massive and almost has a bubble look to it, but there really is no way to tell if it's 720p or not. So what else do we have? For one, no more fingerprint scanner. (Was anyone actually using that thing anyway?) The device will also have a pumped up 8MP camera that shoots 1080p (just like the Bionic and DROID3), HDMI-out, and the newest version of Blur (just don't call it that). The big news here though, is clearly that screen. Could this really be one of the first HD screens on a smartphone? We saw a benchmark earlier suggesting that HTC has one in the works called Vigor, so maybe this is about to become the norm? And what about Verizon customers who are about to buy the Bionic? Should we expect another variant to head to Big Red in 2011? Lot's of questions. You guys give me the answers. Update: We see that a number of you noticed that there is a weird watermark of some sort that says "Sony Ericsson" and are assuming that they are fake. While we won't ever 100% know, we're pretty sure it is a watermark for the original forum that they came from. The watermark moves in each photo. The images more than likely originated at this forum which is a Sony Ericsson forum, hence the reason for that logo on there. Full gallery below. [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Original set of pics found by Unwired View. We kept digging though and found this DROID HD stuff here.

Verizon Doesn't Have MicroSIM Cards Yet, Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE Launch Will Be Tricky

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:17:21 +0000

Update: We're hearing that some stores have them, some don't. Be sure to call ahead of time before heading into a store. Verizon stores have not received their microSIM 4G LTE cards yet in many locations which could make the launch of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE a little awkward tomorrow. Customers who planned on picking one up in the morning should be aware of a few things. First, wait until after 10AM to cruise into a store because they may have received their shipment by then. If they haven't, they will allow you to order one via d-fill which means they'll order you a Tab and microSIM and have it shipped to your house. For month-to-month data plan customers, it looks like they will still sell you the device, but will have to order a microSIM card that will arrive within a couple of days. Just thought we'd share... Cheers ___!

TouchPal is Releasing a New Beta, And Wants It To Be Your New Favorite Keyboard

Tim — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:39:10 +0000

Everyone here definitely has their own opinions on what their favorite keyboard is. Whether it be Swype, FlexT9, Swiftkey, etc, each one of those has their certain niche which works for individual people. Well, TouchPal thinks you're all wrong, but it isn't entirely your fault. You just don't know about their awesome new input system yet. They have released a very nice promotional video, which includes a great soundtrack we might add, and have even opened up the beta channel to a new product that is apparently on the way. But wait a tick, that sounds like Swype? If you want to be a part of the newest Android keyboard beta craze, check here. If you want to see what they are currently offering, hit up the market link below. Market Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Cr8eXuKl4[/youtube] For more info, check the TouchPal website. Via: Android and Me

Newest Of The DROIDX CyanogenMod Nightlies Gets Bumped to Android 2.3.5

Tim — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:02:43 +0000

If you've been running CyanogenMod on your DROIDX, you'll be happy to hear that the newest of the nightlies uploaded this afternoon, is running Android 2.3.5, and is most definitely stable. Seems like just yesterday this beast was finally semi-cracked and the developer community jumped on it. In the words of Ian Malcolm: Life is like Android, it will find a way. Has everyone been trying out the nightlies on their devices? We're sure that 2.3.5 will be leaking onto all the phones soon. To check your device's nightly status, check Rom Manager (you must have the premium version to get nightlies) or at the Team Douche Mirror Network. Happy flashing. Cheers Zach!

Google Maps Updated to Version 5.8, Photo Uploads and Other Places Features Included

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:09:34 +0000

Another Google Maps update should be waiting for you in the market; this time taking you to version 5.8 that includes a whole bunch of Places additions. Users now have the ability to attach photos to their favorite places and also add locations that may be missing. Google is certainly doing their best to try and make this your social check-in service of choice. I'd say they are doing a pretty nice job of it - now to try and convince all of our friends to ditch Foursquare for this. See that happening any time soon? The full changelog:

Upload photos for a Place
My Places as a simple way to manage the Places you’ve starred and recently viewed
Descriptive terms for Places in search results
Add a new Place on-the-go when checking in

Market Link And maybe this is old, but it sure looks like Maps in general are showing a lot more detail than they have in the past. Check out this map of Portland that shows building and housing layouts on streets and blocks in areas close to downtown. Has it always been like that? Feel free to tell me that I need to wake up and that it has been like that forever.

Via: Google Mobile

Angry Birds Gets An Update In The Market, Including 15 New Levels

Tim — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:24:50 +0000

Can't get enough Angry Birds? Today, Rovio just pumped out an update on the Android Market for the original Angry Birds app. Nothing too crazy, but you get 15 new Mine and Dine levels. That should tie you over for a bit. Is it a problem that whenever I think about the Mine and Dine levels it makes me want to play Minecraft? Everyone here still down with word being that of the bird? Have fun! Market Link Cheers everyone who sent this in!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE Arriving in Stores for Tomorrow's Launch

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:05:40 +0000

We're getting close, peeps. Units have starting arriving in stores for the big launch. As many of you know, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will go one sale in Verizon stores tomorrow as the world's first 4G LTE tablet, a title the Motorola XOOM should have carried, but couldn't deliver on. Along with it's super fast connectivity comes with what display experts are calling the best display of all tablets - including those made by Apple. It also packs a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM, Android 3.1 (upgradeable to 3.2 with TouchWizUX in early August), dual cameras, and the weight of a feather. OK, that last part was an exaggeration, but this puppy is certainly thinner and lighter than almost any tablet on the planet. Cheers ___!

Oracle Deletes Evidence Pointing To Sun's Approval Of Java Use In Android

Tim — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:28:50 +0000

If anyone has been following the case against Google made by Oracle about an alleged infringement on Oracle's Java software, then you may be pleased to hear that Google might have gotten a good piece of evidence to help fight the money hungry Oracle. A couple years ago, Sun was bought by Oracle, and Sun were the holders of Java. A blog post made by Sun's CEO shows that he was just fine with Google's use of Java on their OS. Even going as far to state that all of Sun's development resources should be based around the platform.

I'd also like Sun to be the first platform software company to commit to a complete developer environment around the platform, as we throw Sun's NetBeans developer platform for mobile devices behind the effort. We've obviously done a ton of work to support developers on all Java based platforms, and were pleased to add Google's Android to the list. - Jonathan Schwartz CEO of Sun

This blog by Mr. Schwartz himself, shall be used in court as an approval of Google to use Java in Android. Definitely sounds like he has no issues with it so far, am I right? In comes Oracle. After acquiring the Java software, Oracle deleted the blog made by the Sun CEO and only recently has it been retrieved using the internet's wonderful time machine powers. Now Oracle will have to answer for this in court, and we're hoping a judge will side with Google and their approved use of Java. But wait, does the CEO of Sun actually mean that Google can use it without paying it's dues? Back in 2007, CNET touched on these matters and it didn't sound like Sun was extremely happy with what Google was doing. Sun Microsystems stated that Google was taking Java down a road of fragmentation. (Ring a bell?)

Anything that creates a more diverse or fractured platform is not in developers' best interests - Executive VP of Sun's Software

Once Sun saw that Google was possibly taking their work, and turning it into something that would not benefit the community as a whole, they seemingly changed their tune. Google reacted quick with their statement and a rep had this to say:

Google and the other members of the Open Handset Alliance are working to help solve fragmentation and supporting the developer community by creating Android, a mobile platform that responds to the needs of the developers, has the backing of industry leaders, and will be available as open source under a nonrestrictive license.

Does anyone else see a vicious cycle happening here? Keep in mind this was all back in 2007, and it may not even end for quite some time. This story is years in the making, and we'll keep you posted if anything that may concern Android as a whole, happens. Sun CEO approved of Google's usage, then retracted approval? Then Oracle erases CEO's statements anyways? This would be an excellent T.V. Drama. Via: AndroidAndMe

Galaxy S II on Verizon Dubbed Fascinate II?

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:50:49 +0000

Verizon's support account is on a roll today. First we had confirmation (that has sort of been retracted) that the Galaxy S II will be a 4G LTE device and may now have the name for it as well. How does Fascinate II, sound? Rumors of it being called the Function have been floating around for a couple of months thanks to some random accessory site, but Fascinate II just makes so much more sense. The DROID brand all follows some sort of numerical naming convention, so why not the Galaxy S line? And I'm pointing this out for the simple fact that the initial question was, "When is the Galaxy SII coming out?" with no mention of Fascinate. The VZW support rep is the one that included the name. Thoughts? Cheers Dave!

Asus Transformer Receiving Android 3.2 Update Tomorrow, July 28

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:51:47 +0000

Asus Transformer owners, Android 3.2 is upon us! Well, tomorrow it is. The update (according to Asus Twitter), will be available tomorrow, bringing the hottest Android tablet on the planet up to the most current version that includes a new zooming feature for apps that haven't been built for tablets and SD card support. Nothing huge, but definitely needed. The full list of 3.2 highlights is as follows:

Optimizations for a wider range of tabletsAndroid 3.2 includes a variety of optimizations across the system to ensure a great user experience on a wider range of tablet devices.
Compatibility zoom for fixed-sized appsAndroid 3.2 introduces a new compatibility zoom mode that gives users a new way to view fixed-sized apps on larger devices. The new mode provides a pixel-scaled alternative to the standard UI stretching for apps that are not designed to run on larger screen sizes, such as on tablets. The new mode is accessible to users from a menu icon in the system bar, for apps that need compatibility support.
Media sync from SD cardOn devices that support an SD card, users can now load media files directly from the SD card to apps that use them. A system facility makes the files accessible to apps from the system media store.

Transformer owners, be sure to let us know when you receive it. Cheers @chrisarm24!

Verizon Support Claims That Their Samsung Galaxy S II Will Indeed Have 4G LTE (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:11:08 +0000

Official Verizon support just dropped the tweet you are seeing above which states that their version of the Samsung Galaxy S II will have 4G LTE. We have all been speculating as to whether or not the device would launch on Big Red with 4G since it certainly seems like it will on every other carrier. The idea of it launching so close to the Bionic though, had us doubting. This would seemingly change those thoughts and is huge news, especially if we are to see the device in August. Unless of course that in an hour they retract it to say that they meant "the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will have 4G." But for now though, we're jumping up and down with joy. Update: And as expected, the damage control has begun, although no one is necessarily denying that the phone exists or that it will or will not have 4G. You'll see in both responses that different support reps are scrambling...

Not exactly sure what "not in our website" is supposed to mean, but again, isn't really a denial.

If this statement does indeed hold up, feel free to tell us in the comments what you plan on making your next device. Cheers @sparty569!

Samsung Hosting Galaxy Tab 10.1 Software Event August 3, TouchWizUX Update Highlighted

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:01:22 +0000

If you own a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, then you'll want to pay close attention to August 3. Why? Well, an event in NYC has been scheduled to show off a "major software update" for the device - TouchWizUX to be exact. No word yet if this update will also included Android 3.2, but if you are available between 1:00 and 6:00PM that day and in New York, you could swing by and get your Tab updated on the spot. The date for the over-the-air update has not been set (at least publicly), so stay tuned. And we've dropped a TouchWizUX preview to give you a pretty clear view of what TouchWizUX will do to your currently-stock Honeycomb device. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlLP3RXkmUQ[/youtube]

HTC Vigor Benchmark Spotted, Headed to Verizon with 1.5GHz Dual-core Processor and 720p HD Display?

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:18:32 +0000

Pardon me while I pick my jaw up off the floor to attempt to write this post. What you are looking at, is a (unconfirmed) benchmark for the HTC Vigor that could be headed to Verizon. If what we are seeing is to be believed, the device (ADR6425LVW) will run Qualcomm's new 1.5GHz Snapdragon dual-core processor that includes the brand new Adreno 220 GPU - a processor and GPU set that at least on paper, might be one of the most impressive we've ever seen. It gets better though. Check out the display resolution of 1280x720...yep, 720p HD resolution right there. It's also running Android 2.3.4 at this time, but with a resolution like that, we're thinking Ice Cream Sandwich would be a likely candidate come launch; especially if rumors of on-screen home/search/back buttons are to be believed. To give you a refresher, here is a video of this new processor and GPU combo from Qualcomm in action: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnn5bthvq7M[/youtube] And, I'm excited. Via: Nenamark, Android Police

Galaxy S II for Sprint Hits FCC with WiMAX, Device Sales Pass 5 Million Globally

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 07:46:57 +0000

A tech analyst excited all of us yesterday when he predicted that the Samsung Galaxy S II could land on Verizon before any other carrier. With Sprint's version now passing through the FCC though, are we still willing to make any bets on that? We definitely know that the SGS2 is headed to the states some time in August and likely through all 4 major carriers thanks to JK Shin, but an FCC filing is usually a good sign of what's to come. The good news is that the Sprint version will be 4G and run on their WiMAX network, so let us hope that Verizon finds a way to force an LTE chip into theirs without turning the device into a tank. And in related news, the device itself cruised over the 5 million global sales mark in just 85 days without a U.S. device in sight. The press note below is a little confusing and mentions 10 million, but we're thinking they are referencing the "turning point" as being the half-way mark to 10 million.

Samsung Galaxy S 2 Passed the Turning Point of 10 Million Global Sales Galaxy S 2, which is becoming a global smart icon, finally passed the turning point of 10 million global sales. Samsung Electronics announced on July 27 that its flagship smartphone Galaxy S 2 has marked the accumulated global sales of 5 million units only 85 days (on July 22) after its release. Galaxy S 2 reached the turning point 40 days earlier than its predecessor: Galaxy S did it in 125 days. Galaxy S 2 acquired 56% of the entire mobile phone market in Korea last month, and it has topped the mobile phone market share in more than 10 European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. And it seems Galaxy S 2 is ‘still hungry’ as it is now poised to spread its global sensation into other regions like Latin America and China

Getting excited yet? Via: FCC, Wireless Goodness, Phandroid

DROID Bionic Poses for New Photo, More Than Likely Headed for "Early September" Launch

Kellen — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 06:18:33 +0000

Please ignore all references made to a release of the DROID Bionic on August 4 over the last day or three. If it shows up miraculously next Thursday, then by all means that's awesome - we just won't be putting our money on it or talking about that day unless Verizon announces it. We had been hearing 9/1 from a variety of sources over the last two weeks and should have stuck with that date. According to a report received today along with this photo, Motorola reps are telling VZW folks that they should expect the device in "early September." And on a related note, our homie mentioned that the device definitely has the same screen as the DROIDX2 and DROID3, but for whatever reason there was far less ghosting. He also said that the device was way lighter and more responsive than expected. We're guessing that has to do with the extra RAM and that sleek new design? Yeah, I'm drooling a little bit too. Apologies for the flip-flopping on dates...both 8/4 and 9/1 are flying at us from all sorts of angles. But I'd say you can probably put those benjamins back in your pockets for at least a few more weeks. Cheers Spaniard!

Best Buy Expecting DROID Bionic Cases to Arrive by August 20?

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:33:16 +0000

I know, I know, another DROID Bionic rumor to finish off a day. With most of these turning out to be extremely questionable, we almost feel like it's the HTC Thunderbolt fiasco all over again. This time though, it's Best Buy at the podium, showing off an 8/20 in-stock date for Bionic cases. Now, this could mean we'll see the device around that date, before or even after! Wow, that was deep and to the point, wasn't it? Actually, we tend to see cases arriving in stores a week or two before the device they support, so let's start focusing in again on the 9/1 date that we've heard a couple of times now. Cheers ___!

Android 2.3.5 Released for the Original DROID by Peter Alfonso

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:11:57 +0000

Our buddy Pete Alfonso continues to work his magic to make the original DROID one of the most current Android devices on the planet. Today, he's releasing Android 2.3.5 through DL so that OG owners can have it before almost any other smartphone. There aren't a lot of spicy changes, but there are new GApps, an updated Search app that is not in the market yet, Gtalk with video and the new market. Download: generic_sholes-ota-eng-pete.zip As usual, download the file from above and drop it on your SD card. After that, boot into recovery through ROM Manager, make a backup and then "install zip from sd card." And just in case he updates it, you'll want to check this folder. Here is his github. Be sure to keep up with Pete at his site and on Twitter!

DROIDX2 Gingerbread Update Appears to Be Ready, Newest Version of Blur Included

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:07:17 +0000

The soak test for the DROIDX2 and its Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update started at the end of last week, so seeing the official documents for it on Verizon's site today should mean that it passed. It's also looking like the DX2 will receive the same version of Blur that can be found on the DROID3. This would be the newest version that comes with fancy 3D animations and additional tweaks to make it much more appealing to even Android addicts like myself. You can click on both the image up top and the one below to see the full changelog. It's definitely packing in a ton of bug fixes along with those UI enhancements. *Note - I just checked my DX2 for an update and nothing was there. Could be a day or two away still. Page 2 after the break.

And the old Blur changing into the new Blur (check out the icon set):

More info.

Confirmed: XOOM 4G LTE Upgrade Available in September, Emails to Customers Rolling Out Today (Updated) (Again With Email)

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:13:19 +0000

We just received word that Motorola XOOM 3G owners ~~could~~ will see an email from either Moto or Verizon today with details about their 4G LTE upgrade. According to our source, the email will inform them that the upgrade will not happen until September (pictured below). The LTE upgrade has passed through the FCC already, so we were under the impression that it would be soon. Maybe Moto needs more time to coordinate the mail-in process? And remember, this was supposed to happen originally in May. Update: Here is your confirmation. September is indeed when this is going down.

Update 2: And the emails should be rolling out now to all XOOM owners...

Cheers Joe, mfg68, Mr. Alfonso, Andrew and everyone else for the email!

RadioShack To Dump T-Mobile, Teaming Up With Verizon In September

Tim — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:12:01 +0000

Oh snap, more carrier drama? I wouldn't say this is as big as 2-Pac and Biggie, but it definitely holds some weight (rap puns, anybody?). RadioShack has announced today that in April, T-Mobile had breached their contract with the tech retailer. They didn't go into specifics about the breach, but did state that they will be dropped as a partner. To take T-Mo's place is Verizon, and they will begin selling pre-paid and post-paid services in stores starting in September. RadioShack will now hold accounts for Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon. You think T-Mobile is going to be hurting after this just a little bit? Well it looks like RadioShack is in a very comfy position after this announcement, with their shares going up 19 percent. Verizon will also benefit with from yet another source to sell their tiered data, and blurred out Motorola phones. Everybody wins? Maybe we should start hitting up RadioShack employees and start asking about the Bionic? Via: WSJ Cheers ReDroid!

Mozilla Working On Their Own Mobile OS To Make Life Easier, With A Little Help From Android

Tim — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:15:14 +0000

Mozilla has officially started on their newest venture called Boot to Gecko, a "complete, standalone operating system for the open Web." They're diving into the project with all the best intentions, looking for uniformity in application development and to streamline the complete experience provided to users. No more "fragmentation" across different devices. What works on your laptop, would work seamlessly on your mobile phone, tablet, etc. They will be using the Gecko engine which shall now be completely open source, and all work moving forward shall be updated in real-time for further development. Looks like no double standard will be coming from the workers at Mozilla who will in fact be using Google's Android kernels, and boot drivers to initially power a device running the mobile OS. Mozilla has said that they want to take as little from Android as possible though. So this is not an OS based on Android, but merely Android is helping get this project off the ground, so in later days, it can stand on it's own. This will in turn rival Google's Chrome OS which has been so far limited to their line of netbooks. I have had no issue while being able to play Angry Birds or Plants Vs. Zombies at my work station using Chrome, so imagine that, but with all applications you currently have. Will people even need to leave their houses? Some time ago, a video was released by Mozilla showing a concept of not only a device, but possibly of the future. Will we welcome the next mobile OS as friendly competition, or is Mozilla being naive in thinking they can compete with Google at their own game? Let us know. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG3tLxEQEdg[/youtube] Source: Mozilla, PC World

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Takes Down iPad2 as the Best Tablet Display

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:28:45 +0000

When we got our hands on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 at Google I/O, the first thing we noticed almost immediately was that its display was far superior to that of the Motorola XOOM. It was bright, vibrant, and left us constantly wanting more. Those claims of ours (which mean nothing by the way) have now been backed by one of the most recognized display aficionados of our time, Dr. Raymond Soneira. You may remember one of his first tablet comparisons (XOOM, iPad2, Iconia, and Transformer) that included some choice words for Motorola's offering? Well, he's back to round out his report which at the time, was missing the Galaxy Tab 10.1 (since it had not been released yet). The results peg Samsung's newest tablet as the top display in all the land - yes, even topping the iPad2...

...As things stand, based on all of the display tests, the iPad 2 and Galaxy Tab 10.1 are reasonably close in performance in most categories, so it’s almost a tie, but the Galaxy Tab is ahead more often than the iPad 2, so the Galaxy Tab is the Winner, by a nose… But should Samsung or Android add a color picture control to the Galaxy Tab with a software update as we describe below, then the Galaxy Tab would be the decisive Winner, by a lot.

So if you are still contemplating a tablet purchase, this should definitely be at the top of your list alongside the Asus Transformer. Both are considered by most to be the top Android offerings, but this news of the Tab 10.1's impressive display should have you leaning a certain direction. The 4G LTE version of Verizon launches this week and WiFi versions are already available at a variety of retailers. To read the full report, you'll want to head over to DisplayMate.

Rumor: Indirect Verizon Dealers Expecting DROID Bionic August 4? (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:27:05 +0000

Update 2: We aren't sure what to think anymore, hah. Let's just hope we see something tomorrow or Thursday from Verizon, like say, an announcement. Update: So I just received another screenshot that had to do with pre-orders starting on 7/31, but the misspellings in it have me questioning it even more now. The word received was spelled "recived" and "recieve" leading me to believe these aren't real. Like we said below though, you were supposed to question them just as we were - let's all move on now. You can check out the screenshot here if you are interested in seeing it. And hey, if these are real, then I apologize to the corporate wireless PR department who clearly can't spell. We have seen this date (August 4) pop up more than any other surrounding the DROID Bionic, so are we ready to accept it yet? Well, we aren't sure still. According to indirect retailers for Verizon, the device could be arriving in display form on 7/29 (this Friday) with actual stock of the phone showing up on 8/1 before Thursday's launch. Maybe we'll have display units to fill up this "Coming Soon!" spot? It should be noted that indirect retailers some times receive information that is subject to change, so before we get too excited, lets hold off and see if these dummy units or stock actually show up this weekend. After all, look at Sam's Club who was all over this 8/4 date at one point and is now not expecting to see it until September. We also almost would have expected a pre-order period of some sort for a device this big and this isn't necessarily leaving room for one. Unless of course the phone gets announced tomorrow and the pre-order goes live Thursday night? And of course there will be questions surrounding the validity of this document. Let me just say that you should feel free to question it. As someone who sees a lot of VZW info, I've not seen any "indirect" documents that look like this, so there isn't much to compare it to. It should say it's instead of its and the registered trademark is something I've never seen used with a DROID device - you decide. Lots of question marks and coulds in there. Just passing on info to help feed your Bionic addiction. Yep, hypebeast. Cheers ___!

Verizon Will Get the Samsung Galaxy S II Before All Other U.S. Carriers?

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:23:36 +0000

Industry analyst Paul Mueller is making waves this morning with his prediction that Verizon will be the first carrier in the U.S. to receive the Samsung Galaxy S II. Either Mueller or the source site has referred to it as the Samsung Function, a name that popped up on an accessory site long ago and is one that we have never fully bought into, and says it could be here by August 12.

“I’m not sure about the exact date, but I’ve been told that August 12 is a possibility. It will arrive first on Verizon and then the rest of the carriers within a month. Samsung will market this directly against the iPhone 5,” says Mr. Mueller.

So, what do we think? Well, we were told by Sammie president JK Shin that they had plans to ship the device to the U.S. in August and we also just saw what we believe is the AT&T version of the Galaxy S2, so Mueller has at least that going for him. We're not a fan of the August 12 date since that's a Friday, but the 11th or 12th is probably what he meant - or at least in that week. To put that into perspective, we're just two weeks away from that time frame. We still have no idea if Verizon will release it as a 4G LTE device, but it just seems so unlikely with the DROID Bionic still not in stores. The Bionic was supposed to be the device of the year for Verizon and will surely launch with a massive marketing campaign. Would they jeopardize all of that money and effort just to release a 4G version of the Galaxy S II only weeks before? Would be pretty surprising. Be sure to read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy S II. Via: Examiner

Dolphin Pad Released as the Next Big Android Tablet Browser

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:05:53 +0000

The folks over at Dolphin just released the tablet version of their incredibly popular 3rd party Android browser titled, Dolphin Pad. It's free, has tabbed browsing, gestures, add-ons, multi-touch, swipe-able sidebars (bookmarks and current tabs), quick User Agent settings, themes, on-demand Flash, and so much more. I'm not the biggest fan of the stock Honeycomb browser with all of its glorious lag and stuttering, so this couldn't be more welcomed. After just a few minutes of time with it, I'd be willing to say that the Dolphin team has put together another winner. Market Link | More Info [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"]

New Android Market 3.0.27 Rolling Out?

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:25:08 +0000

Has the new version (or a new version) of the Android Market started rolling out? A few of our readers have seen it show up over the last few days as version 3.0.27 which differs slightly than version 3.0.26 that we posted for you a week or so ago. To confirm their word, I've checked two of my phones that were updated manually and both are now running the new version of .27. The rollout doesn't appear to be as widespread as we had hoped, but it looks like it has started. I know that most of you updated manually, but if you didn't, are you seeing the new market yet? Everyone else seeing .27 now? Cheers Ezra!

New Batch of Verizon Cities Will Get 4G LTE Service on August 18

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 08:23:57 +0000

Fresh off of the July 21 first launch of 28 new 4G LTE cities, Verizon is already announcing a new set that will go live on August 18. We haven't received an official list yet, but from a variety of sources, we've started compiling one below. We're hearing that the total number of cities will be 116 after the 18th, making this run of LTE rollout from Verizon pretty impressive. *We'll do our best to add to the list as we see cities pop up. New Cities:

Council Bluffs, IA
Ithaca, NY
Syracuse, NY
Albany, NY
Fort Collins, CO
Provo/Orem, UT
Salinas and Monterey, CA
Bakersfield, CA
Omaha, NE
Altoona, PA
Johnstown, PA
Tucson, AZ
Frederick, MD

Expanding:

Cincinnati, OH
Columbus, OH
Rockland County, NY (Nyack, West Nyack, Orangeburg, Pearl River, & Spring Valley)
Metrowest, MA

Cheers Zack and Ben!

AT&T's Samsung Galaxy S II Outed With Keyboard in Tow

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:59:22 +0000

Are you looking at the U.S. edition of the Samsung Galaxy S II? According to BGR, this is at least the AT&T version that we can expect, well, at some time. As you can see, it has a full slideout keyboard, something that would seem to appeal to a much smaller group than the ultra-slim, all-touchscreen version we have grown accustomed to launching throughout the rest of the world. The version of TouchWiz matches up to the current Euro version though, it is running Gingerbread, and the benchmarks are on-par with our test results. This most definitely looks like it could be a keyboarded Galaxy S II. We just want to ask - are you disappointed that the U.S. version may have a keyboard? Now, there is still a chance that there will be keyboardless variants and that AT&T for whatever reason decided to go with this model, but we're a little scared since we saw a Sammie device with a keyboard that appeared to be headed to Verizon a few weeks ago. While it looked just like an Epic 4G and not an SGS2, we are still slightly worried. More pics after the break. [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Via: BGR

Verizon Makes It Official, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 With 4G LTE Launches This Thursday

Kellen — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:29:24 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE will finally be available Thursday at Verizon as the first truly high-speed tablet, confirming our report from this weekend. As expected, it'll launch in two colors (white and gray), two sizes (16GB and 32GB), and at $529 and $629 on 2-year contract. The Tab 10.1 will run Android 3.1 (Honeycomb), but should be updated in the very near future to 3.2 alongside Samsung's TouchWizUX tablet interface. The real news though, is the fact that this is Verizon's first 4G LTE tablet, a title the Motorola XOOM was supposed to carry almost 2 months ago now. Unfortunately for early adopters, they have been passed on by and have no idea when they'll get these massive data speeds. The XOOM has also undergone a price cut, making that $799 purchase back in February one of the more painful of the last couple of years. But as to not rain on the Galaxy Tab 10.1's parade, we'll finish it off by saying that this tablet is the best on the market today. We've had the Google I/O special edition 10.1 tab since May and have used it more than any other. I'm still not sure I would recommend locking into a contract for one, so let's wait and see what that full retail price sneaks in at. Both colors pictured below.

Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 With 4G LTE Available At Verizon Wireless

4G LTE and Wi-Fi Models Available; 8.6 Millimeters Thin and Weighing in at 1.25 pounds
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 with 4G LTE will be available July 28 in either Metallic Gray or Glossy White in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online atwww.verizonwireless.com/SamsungTab4GLTE. Key features:

4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage areas

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

Android™ 3.1 Honeycomb platform – supports Google^™ Mobile Services including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk^™, Google Search^™, Google Maps^™, Google Movies^™, Google Books^™ and Android Market™

Adobe^® Flash^® 10.3 technology

NVIDIA^® Tegra2 dual-core 1 GHz application processor

10.1-inch HD touchscreen display with WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution

3-megapixel rear-facing camera and 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat capabilities

1080p HD video playback on a HD TV or other 1080p HD device

Samsung Media Hub – offers a vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase. Media Hub has been redesigned, allowing customers to playback Media Hub content on their TV through an HDMI adapter (sold separately). Purchased content can be shared with up to five devices enabled with Media Hub at no extra cost.

Pricing and data plans:

Verizon Wireless will offer two 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 models both priced with two-year customer agreements: $529.99 for the 16GB model and $629.99 for the 32GB model.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 customers will have the option to choose one of the following mobile broadband data plans:

$30 monthly access for 2GB monthly allowance

$50 monthly access for 5GB monthly allowance

$80 monthly access for 10GB monthly allowance

A 16GB Wi-Fi-only Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also be available online at www.verizonwireless.com on July 28 for $499.99. The Wi-Fi-only model will be available in Metallic Grey.

Samsung Media Hub Credit:

For a limited time, Verizon Wireless customers will get a free $25 Media Hub credit from Samsung with their Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 purchase, good towards TV program purchases. Restrictions apply, see inbox insert for additional details or visitwww.samsung.com/VerizonTabPromo.

About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 106.3 million total wireless connections, including 89.7 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visitwww.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 atwww.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. About Samsung Telecommunications America 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 visitwww.samsungwireless.com.

Android Market Adds Graph of App Install Trends, Boy Has It Grown Into Something Special

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:06:47 +0000

The Android Market has come so far in such a short amount of time; it's really pretty remarkable. We now have a web-based version that includes featured apps, charts to help you find others, compatibility lists, a full-on ratings scale, and app pages with more details than we can even process. It seems like just yesterday that we were getting giddy about the first on-device overhaul with it's featured wheel of apps and the idea of a web version. So today's addition, which is a graph that shows trends for the last 30 days of apps is not necessarily groundbreaking, but it definitely shows how powerful of a resource the market has become. In fact, I find myself using the browser-based market far more than the one on my phones or tablets for the simple reason that it gives me more info all in one place. Well, and because remote app installing might be the invention of the year - it definitely doesn't receive enough love. Thoughts on how far we've come in the last 6-8 months? Via: Android Police

If the DROID Bionic Ends Up Being Verizon's Version of the Motorola Photon 4G, Will You Be Disappointed?

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:29:10 +0000

All talk around these parts has been about the DROID Bionic lately, since well, it was announced almost 8 months ago and was supposed to be the device to change the Verizon world. Since Motorola and Verizon can't seem to get it to work properly with 4G LTE though, companies like Sprint have swept in to release a phone that many are thinking is exactly what we'll see from the Bionic, the Photon 4G. I'm just wondering if we'll all be disappointed by the time it gets here if indeed it does end up being nothing but a prettier version of Sprint's beastly 4G phone? We've been handed the the Photon 4G training guide (in the gallery below) by our friends at Motorola and I've got to tell you, that I don't see the Bionic ending up any different except in the looks, processor and price departments. We are fully expecting the Bionic to run on an OMAP4 dual-core processor, retail for somewhere around $299 on-contract, and have a much more refined look than this jagged-edged thing that's headed to Sprint. But the other specs all appear to matchup: 8MP camera, front VGA camera (2MP has been rumored, but would surprise us), 4.3" screen (4.5" rumored, but unlikely), 1GB RAM, 4G, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), HDMI-out, webtop app and accessories, and the newest version of Blur that can be found on the DROID3. Or is it possible that Verizon and Motorola have a surprise up their sleeves? It's pretty obvious that the Photon 4G has a super impressive set of specs, but the Bionic has been lifted to this status that would be hard for any device to live up to. Are you OK with the Bionic being Verizon's Photon or do you want more? I'd love a surprise to be packed in like a 4.5" screen that's not a PenTile matrix or upgraded front shooter, just not sure either are happening. What do you guys think? *Note - the spec list below says 720p for the Photon, but that's clearly wrong. [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"]

Help "The Marbians" Get Back To Their Planet In The Newest Game For Android

Tim — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:41:47 +0000

We'll be getting another time killer for Android devices this Friday, with the release of The Marbians. Are you ready to help these poor little crash landed aliens encased in marbles(?) get back home on their distant planet? Definitely looks like a fun premise, with Cut the Rope-esque looking graphics, and a smooth looking gameplay, we'll see if it becomes another instant classic.

The Marbians is a physics-based puzzler where players must fling and flick Marbians across increasingly challenging courses to collect moon rocks and find a way back to their UFO.
Simple yet addictive gameplay that will keep players coming back to solve the next puzzle.
Take a trip back to the 1940's with retro rock 'n roll tunes and aesthetics!
Players will find The Marbians easy to jump right into, but can expect many surprising challenges in this off-the-wall, retro 40's universe meets modern day gameplay.

Who's all looking forward to this game as much as we are? If you're looking for even more info on the upcoming release, then follow this link. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc4yzgkQZ_Y[/youtube]

New DROID Bionic XT875 Lands in Verizon Cellebrite, Launch Date is Completely Up in the Air at This Point

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:33:16 +0000

Verizon's Cellebrite systems have been updated to reflect the existence of the newest version of the DROID Bionic that you have all been waiting for. As you can see from the shot above, we have both the old (XT865) and new version (XT875) listed now which would lead us to believe that we're at least getting sort of close. We've reported multiple times on a possible 9/1 release date, but there are still those that think we could see it by August 4. This would seemingly be a sign that 8/4 is still a strong possibility, however, I personally won't be holding my breath. *Note - Unless of course Moto, @MDB228 and a variety of sources are all playing one big trick on us and it will be here August 4 after all. At this point, it's completely up in the air. Update: To add some additional info to the post, we wanted to point out that the DROID3 popped up in Cellebrite back in May and was not released to stores until July 14. So by no means does this mean we're just 1-2 weeks away, but is still a good sign that we're getting there. This is a positive development though! I'd say we're closer than we have ever been. Cheers ___!

Motorola XOOM 3G Price Drop Gets Even Better, Full Retail Lowered to $599

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:04:43 +0000

We reported earlier today that the Verizon version of the Motorola XOOM had dropped to $499 on 2-year contract, but from the shot of a store's pricing slip, we can see that the deal may be even sweeter. The full retail price (in stores at least, online is still $799) has dropped to just $599 as of today. Yep, that makes the 3G version of the XOOM that is upgradeable to 4G LTE, the same price as its WiFi-only counterpart (well, when it originally launched). In recent weeks, we had been telling most of you in the tablet-buying market to either consider the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 or Asus Transformer. But to have a Honeycomb tablet that will at some point in the next month be upgraded to 4G and that also receives updates quicker than anyone, we'd be lying if we didn't tell you that we think this deal is ridiculously good. Clearly there are cheaper options even with the XOOM 3G/4G at $599, but none of them will have the ability to lock onto Verizon's network either. Anyone ready to head into a Big Red store today? Cheers ___!

DROID Bionic Boot Animation Reconstructed Through Leaked Images, Available to All of You

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:58:35 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hFPIS5pcPM[/youtube]

Developer barczakmark took it upon himself to create a DROID Bionic boot animation while we all wait impatiently for Motorola and Verizon to release the actual device. He patched together this rendition after seeing all of the leaked blurry cam photos that have made it into the wild and overall, did a pretty damn good job. This should give us a little something to make the wait until September 1 somewhat manageable. Download: 480x854 | 540x960 (more resolutions at the source link) Instructions:

*Rooted users only.

1. Drop the .zip onto your SD card. 2. Open up ROM Manager and reboot into recovery. 3. From there, "install zip from sd card" and choose the .zip. 4. Run it and enjoy! The rest of the screen resolutions can be found at RootzWiki. Cheers Jeff!

DROID Incredible 2 Minor Update Rolling Out Now

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:14:30 +0000

The DROID Incredible 2 update that we reported on over the weekend is now available to non-rooted stock users. The update can be pulled by simply going into Menu>Settings>Software update>Check new. It's nothing like the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update you received a couple of weeks ago, but it will improve server connections issues for both your contacts and email. Cheers Brandon and Justin!

Motorola XOOM 3G Version Drops to $499 Just Days Before the Galaxy Tab 10.1 4G LTE Launches

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:56:48 +0000

Our friends at Verizon notified us over the weekend that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE was launching this Thursday, so to see the Motorola XOOM (without 4G) dropping in price to $499 (on-contract) just days before is not a surprise. In fact, we just looked back at one of our MAP (minimum advertised price) lists which features the new GTab, and noticed that the XOOM's pricing period ended on 7/21. I guess we could have predicted that this would happen weeks ago. Sorry! So, does this price drop signify anything special other than the GTab launching? It could. We first reported on a new XOOM with 4G LTE built-in that had received MAP, but with no other details since then, it is hard to say when we could potentially see it. If that device is still in the plans though, this could be Verizon's attempt to help move the dusty boxes of XOOMs off of their back shelf to make room for the new version. Oh, and you'll notice that the Thunderbolt's MAP period has also ended - should we be expecting a price cut for it as well? I certainly would hope so with the DROID Bionic 4 or 5 weeks away.

Cheers @justinoutlaw22!

Onavo Lite Beta Launches, New Tiered Data Participants Take Note

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:38:35 +0000

Update: Seems as if I forgot that the Onavo team had asked that we not post screenshots or talk much about the app once it was released to the test group. Whoops! So we've taken everything down as we want to continue to be a part of their beta program. I'll have to direct you to their sign-up page below and also just mention that this app kicks ass so far. Tiered data users will definitely want to get a hold of this bad boy. You may still be able to sign up here. Cheers dren, Anish, EvantheGamer, and everyone else!

Villain-Hero Android Mini Collectibles Will Go On Sale August 1

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:37:24 +0000

The special edition Heroes/Villains Android Mini Collectibles that were unveiled and then given out at Comic-Con last week will go on sale to the public August 1. There is no telling just how many will be made available, but as you may recall from past sales, they will likely be sold out within minutes. It's a set of 4 collectibles - two villains and two heroes that would be a more-than-welcomed addition to all of our collections. More info here and here. Cheers EvantheGamer!

Samsung Possibly Outsells Both Apple and Nokia in Q2 Without a U.S. Galaxy S II

Kellen — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:12:15 +0000

Reporting on numbers of Android handsets sold as compared to Apple's has always been something not really worth talking about since well, there is just one Apple device each year and hundreds that run our favorite OS. We always stuck to comparing OS activations since that is the true measurement. When one company sneaks up though and could potentially take down both Apple and Nokia in a single quarter, we thought we'd give it some run as that is quite the accomplishment. According to analysts, Samsung is expected to announce for Q2 that it sold anywhere from 18 to 21 million smartphones (Nokia 16.7 million, Apple 20.3 million) which is pretty remarkable seeing as they haven't even released a U.S. version yet (our review). Once the Galaxy S II hits our shores, you can almost guarantee that these numbers will spike again as one of the most anticipated devices of the year. Android has certainly come a long way... Via: Bloomberg Cheers tjhrulz!

Asus Transformer to See Official Netflix Support With Android 3.2 Update?

Kellen — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:38:06 +0000

When Netflix decided to start showing support for Honeycomb tablets last week, we found that the file could be side-loaded (get the apk file here) onto a variety of tablets and work flawlessly - except for the Asus Transformer, that is. Unless you were rooted and willing to flash a .zip file, you were simply out of luck. The good news is, that there may be official Netflix support coming once the device receives its Android 3.2 update that has been flagged as coming "soon." There has been no official word yet from Asus or Netflix on this being the case, but their Transformer spec page certainly thinks the device is ready. And since the update is just around the corner, we are tossing together a couple of puzzle pieces to come to this conclusion...

Cheers Anthony!

Minor DROID Incredible 2 Update on the Way, Improves Server Connection Issues

Kellen — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:38:31 +0000

Fresh off of its Gingerbread update, the DROID Incredible 2 already has another on the way. This time it looks like it's just a minor "server connection" fix (only 4.2MB) that has to do with email and contacts, but no matter what, we're happy to see HTC and Verizon acting quickly. We haven't heard when the update will be available, so be on the look and let us know. Update: @TeamAndIRC just released the RUU over at RootzWiki for those that want to update now. More info.

Confirmed: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE Launching July 28 on Verizon

Kellen — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:10:58 +0000

On Friday we received word from one of our readers that the shipping date for his Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE had switched to July 26, leading us to believe that the official launch date would be July 28. Our assumption was spot on as we now have confirmation from our friends at Verizon that this coming Thursday is indeed the launch day. The black/metallic gray version will be available in all channels (stores and internet), but the white version will only be available via direct fill (internet or sales line). The 16GB models will roll in at $529 on-contract with the 32GB versions sneaking up to $629. It'll come loaded with Android 3.1 as expected, microSIM card, and one of the prettier 10.1 screens we've seen on a tablet. Cheers ___!

DROIDX and DROID2 Finally Receive MIUI Ports

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:47:00 +0000

You all know MIUI by now, don't you? This would be one of the few ROMs that actually gives you a completely new user experience. We released the port of the new overhaul last week for the original DROID, but today, it's all about the DROIDX and DROID2. This has been one of those ROMs that wouldn't make its way onto either device because of its stingy bootloader. Well, thanks to our boy @cvpcs who figured out his 2nd-init magic for some CM7 goodness, we now have MIUI. Huge props to the MIUI team (Frameworks43) for getting this out to us. Download: DROIDX | DROID2 Instructions: 1. Drop on .zip on SD card. 2. Boot into recovery and make a backup. 3. Wipe data/factory reset. 4. Load up MIUI. 5. Enjoy! Full support can be found at these two RootzWiki threads: DROIDX | DROID2 [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Cheers BMc!

This Week In The Life Of DROID: 7/22/2011

Tim — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:25:53 +0000

"When is the Bionic coming?!?" "Where is my Thunderbolt update?!?" Seems like these are the questions everyone wants answered immediately around here. Well, we got some answers for you this week for sure. They definitely might not be the answers you wanted, but it's better than nothing, right?

August 4th or September 1st for the Bionic? Sooner the better? Thunderbolts have no expectations of getting Gingerbread now? Not the easiest information to swallow for some of us. We'll keep you posted on the newest developments. Have a safe weekend everybody.

Digital Copies of Blu-ray Titles Finally Headed to Android Thanks to Twentieth Century Fox

Tim — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:29:16 +0000

Starting to look like our days of having no awesome movie options could be coming to an end as Twentieth Century Fox and Android are teaming up to bring us some Blu-ray bundle deals. Sure we have Netflix, and Hulu, but am I wrong in saying that most of their titles for streaming aren't that good? Hopefully adding the power of Blu-ray will be another way to get the titles we actually want on our Android devices. It's reported that the first offering from Fox will be the new X-Men movie. When purchasing the Blu-ray, you just download the movie onto the computer, place it on the phone and you're then free to enjoy it anywhere you like. Sounds easy enough, and we're hoping there are even better/more titles to come. If you happen to be a Blu-ray lover and don't mind spending the extra cash on a movie, then this will be right up your alley. Not too bad, am I right? Anyone here excited for this news, or is buying a Blu-ray not worth the hassle? Via: TechCrunch

Custom ROM Friday: Project Elite 6.5 For "OG" DROID

Tim — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:23:23 +0000

Apparently there are thousands of people who have been waiting for this ROM to be released, and luckily for all of you, last night our dear friend Actngrezy and Mojo Droid uploaded it for the masses. Project Elite 6.5 is based off Android 2.3.4 and is going to make your OG DROID run smooth as butter. Plus, there is even an alternative themed ROM if stock coloration doesn't tickle your fancy. What's even better news is that the developers recently received a DROID Incredible, and you may be seeing Project Elite on multiple devices in the future. Fingers crossed, people. So enough talk, let's get to flashing!

For Rooted Motorola DROID Only!

Changelog Download: Project Elite 6.5 UNthemed.zip Download: Project Elite 6.5 THEMED.zip (Stock Gingerbread, but has replaced all orange with green.) Place the zip on the root of your SD Card and then boot into Clockwork Mod Recovery. Wipe all your data/cache (for safer installation) and then proceed to install ROM. If coming from earlier version of Project Elite, wipe may not be necessary. Users, proceed with caution. To shoot down the early questions - No, this will not work on any phone besides the Motorola DROID. Not the Eris, and not your Nook Color. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask them below in the comments section, or check out the original forum post. Have fun, and be safe. [gallery columns="4"] Make sure to follow Actngrezy and Mojo Droid on Twitter, and check out their website!

We Still Aren't Sure if @MDB228 is Real, But He Says August 4 for DROID Bionic

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:12:39 +0000

We have no idea if this @MDB228 account is real or not, but he's provided a ton of entertainment over the last week or so. After creating the most epic of forum posts, he went ahead and created a Twitter account to help his cause for either the biggest DROID troll in history or what some believe to be Verizon's next viral campaign. We're not ready to buy into it being official just yet, but what has become clear, is his insistence that the DROID Bionic will launch on August 4. This latest tweet is a good example. Not following? Looks to me like a countdown in seconds. There are 86,400 seconds in a day, so if you multiply that out to August 4 from right now, it equals his number. Clever, right? I think he can do better. And by the way, we still wouldn't be shocked to see this phone come out on 9/1 and are not 100% into 8/4 at all. What do you guys think - are we buying into MDB228?

Buy an LG Revolution, Receive 3 Free Months of Netflix (Updated: Commercial Added)

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:22:39 +0000

If you were looking for a reason to buy the LG Revolution, then maybe this newly announced Netflix promo will help. Starting today and ending on August 28, Verizon and Netflix have partnered up to give each newly purchased Revolution a 3-month free subscription to their streaming service. Current Netflix customers are also eligible for this promo.

Beginning 7/22/2011 through 8/28/2011, customers who purchase the LG Revolution on a new two year contract will receive three free months of Netflix streaming service valued at $7.99/month.

Not a bad deal, but I'm still not sure this is enough to make me lock into a 2-year contract for this phone when we know that the DROID Bionic is seemingly 2 weeks away. And we had to laugh at breakdown they provided of how many movies per month you can watch on their tiered data plans. We're assuming that those numbers would mean how many movies you could watch if you didn't use data on any other service like Gmail or internet. Damn tiers. Sort of sad that the day we get super fast internet with big screens and services that allow us to utilize them properly, is the same day that we get shot down into tiers so that we can no longer fully take advantage of them without breaking the bank. Update: New commercial released just minutes ago for this promo: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbCG5qXfUEI[/youtube] Cheers Moreno!

HTC Rep: Thunderbolt Android 2.3 Update Pulled Back, No Estimated Time Frame for Relaunch

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:59:19 +0000

We tend to get a little skeptical when customer services reps start dropping time lines for updates, but since the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) chatter for the Thunderbolt seems to have died down a notch or two lately, we thought we'd share. From the email below that one of our readers received back from an HTC rep, you can see a reference was made to 2.3 and the fact that it is causing some sort of bug which has prompted them to pull it back...

Dear Shannon xxxxx I understand how important it is to have the latest update for your device. Unfortunately, it is the latest update to 2.3 that is creating this to happen. HTC has pulled back this update to keep future customers from receiving the update. We are working on getting this update fixed, when the update is relaunched you will receive a notification on your device. Unfortunately, there is no estimated time frame on when this issue will be resolved. Shannon, we do apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. To send a reply to this message or let me know I have successfully answered your question log in to our ContactUs site using your email address and your ticket number 11USCW30ENA002669. Sincerely, Samantha HTC Want to see what others are saying? Have a question to ask other HTC fans?

We had heard that the update to Android 2.3 would be available by the end of Q2 some time ago, but with some unexpected bugs (those pesky reboots) that needed to be addressed immediately, we're not surprised by this delay. Is it frustrating? Most definitely. But after seeing 3 or 4 different GB builds leak though, you can tell that there is something troubling this update. She mentioned that there is "no estimated time frame", so we'll just have to try to tell you guys to remain patient. Sorry, folks. Cheers Shannon!

4G LTE Samsung Galaxy Tab Shipments Get a 7/26 Shipping Date

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:56:56 +0000

The 4G LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 on Verizon has gone through one of the weirder release periods in recent memory. First, it was announced with a pre-order date instead of a release date. It quickly missed that pre-order date though without mention from Big Red, but soon found another period for people to order it early - all without an official release date. Then stores started receiving massive Galaxy Tab 10.1 displays, but again, no mention from anyone as to when the device itself might arrive which had us hoping for this week (clearly that did not happen). And now we have this, from one of readers. Is this new July 26 shipping date a sign that the device will finally launch next Thursday July 28? If the plan is to have pre-orders begin shipping by next Tuesday, you would have to think that the device will be available to all just a couple of days later. And of course, we all know how much Verizon loves launching things on Thursdays. Oh, they also mentioned in their Q2 earnings call today that the device "is expected to launch by the end of this month." So I'd say next week is almost guaranteed. Cheers MFG68!

Verizon Reports Q2 Earnings: Sells 1.2 Million 4G LTE Devices, Announces a New CEO

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 09:30:03 +0000

Our pals from Verizon reported their Q2 earnings this morning and also announced that CEO Ivan Seidenberg would be stepping down and will remain solely on as chairman of the board - COO Lowell McAdam will take over as CEO. All of this probably has little impact on all of us, but we can certainly hope that Lowell really hates and has a strong passion for unlocking bootloaders or something. Silly...executives caring about their customers needs and wants. Kidding! They also announced that 1.2 million 4G LTE devices were activated during Q2, most of which were phones. 2.3 million i*hones were activated, which is around a 44% drop off from Q1. Full press released after the break.

Verizon Reports Accelerated Revenue Growth, Expanded Margins and Strong 2Q Earnings Performance
2Q HIGHLIGHTS Consolidated

·        57 cents in diluted earnings per share (EPS), compared with a loss of 42 cents per share and adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) of 51 cents in 2Q 2010.

Wireless

·        6.6 percent year-over-year increase in service revenues in 2Q 2011; data revenues up 22.2 percent; 27.1 percent operating income margin and 45.4 percent Segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP).

·        2.2 million net additions, excluding acquisitions and adjustments, includes 1.3 million retail postpaid net customer additions; 106.3 million total connections, includes 89.7 million retail customers.

·        Retail postpaid churn of 0.89 percent, the lowest in three years.

Wireline

·        189,000 FiOS Internet and 184,000 FiOS TV net additions.

·        9.4 percent year-over-year increase in consumer ARPU; FiOS consumer retail revenues represent approximately 57 percent of total consumer revenues.

·        17.8 percent increase in strategic services revenues, representing approximately 48 percent of total global enterprise revenues.

NEW YORK -- Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) today reported accelerated revenue growth and improved margins across its business groups, leading to a strong earnings performance in second-quarter 2011. Verizon reported 57 cents in EPS in the quarter, compared with a second-quarter 2010 loss of 42 cents per share. There are no adjustments to second-quarter 2011 earnings results. Adjusted second-quarter 2010 earnings were 51 cents per share, excluding the impact of divestitures and non-operational charges (non-GAAP). The most significant 2010 charges related to a workforce-reduction incentive offer that led to approximately 11,900 voluntary separations last year. Strong, Positive Momentum “In terms of earnings growth and the acceleration of revenue growth, this has been one of Verizon’s best quarters since the 2008 economic downturn,” said Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg. “We expanded sequential margins in both our wireline and wireless businesses, and in the second half of the year we expect Verizon to build on this strong, positive momentum to continue to drive profitable, sustainable growth.” Seidenberg added: “We expect Verizon Wireless to gain share in the retail postpaid market and widen its network-quality lead throughout 2011. We also continue to see strong customer demand for FiOS Internet and TV, and for cloud and other strategic services. At the same time, we remain focused on our cost structure, as we deliver improvements in wireline margins quarter after quarter. Consolidated Revenue Growth Continues to Accelerate On a consolidated basis, Verizon’s total operating revenues were $27.5 billion in second-quarter 2011, an increase of 2.8 percent compared with second-quarter 2010. Last year’s results included revenues from operations that have since been divested. On a comparable basis (non-GAAP), second-quarter 2011 total operating revenues increased 6.3 percent compared with second-quarter 2010. This was Verizon’s strongest quarter for consolidated revenue growth in 10 quarters. Also on a comparable basis, consolidated EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for second-quarter 2011 totaled $9.0 billion, up 5.2 percent year over year. Cash flow from operating activities totaled $12.8 billion in the first half of 2011, down from $16.8 billion in the first half of 2010. Last year’s total included cash flow from businesses that have since been divested and the timing of favorable tax-related impacts, and 2011 totals include inventory purchases for wireless devices and the impact of previously announced pension-fund payments in first-quarter 2011. Verizon said its cash flow outlook for the remainder of 2011 remains very strong. The company aggressively invested in growth opportunities in the first half of 2011. One example is the deployment of Verizon’s nationwide 4G LTE (fourth-generation, Long-Term Evolution) wireless broadband network. In first-half 2011, Verizon’s capital expenditures totaled $8.9 billion, compared with $7.6 billion in first-half 2010. Verizon continues to expect full-year 2011 capital spending to be similar to its 2010 investment of $16.5 billion. Verizon Wireless Delivers Another Strong Quarter Verizon Wireless delivered strong growth in revenues, retail customers and other connections, driven by increased smartphone penetration and increased retail postpaid ARPU (average monthly service revenue per user). In the second quarter of 2011: Wireless Financial Highlights

·        Service revenues in the quarter totaled $14.7 billion, up 6.6 percent year over year. Data revenues were $5.8 billion, up $1.1 billion or 22.2 percent year over year, and represent 39.5 percent of all service revenues. Total revenues were $17.3 billion, up 10.2 percent year over year.

·        Retail postpaid ARPU grew 1.9 percent or $1.00 over second-quarter 2010, to $54.12. Retail postpaid data ARPU increased to $21.26, up 15.2 percent year over year. Retail service ARPU also grew 1.9 percent, to $52.49.

·        Wireless operating income margin was 27.1 percent. Segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP) was 45.4 percent.

Wireless Operational Highlights

·        Verizon Wireless added 2.2 million total connections, including 1.3 million retail postpaid customers, and 890,000 wholesale and other connections. These additions exclude acquisitions and adjustments.

·        At the end of the second quarter, the company had 106.3 million total connections, an increase of 6.6 percent year over year, including 89.7 million retail customers and 16.6 million wholesale and other connections.

·        At the end of the second quarter, smartphones were 36 percent of Verizon Wireless’ retail postpaid customer phone base, up from 32 percent at the end of first-quarter 2011.

·        Retail postpaid churn was 0.89 percent, the lowest in the industry and the company’s lowest since second-quarter 2008. Total retail churn was 1.22 percent, an improvement of 9 basis points year over year and 11 basis points sequentially.

·        Verizon Wireless continued to roll out its 4G LTE mobile broadband network during the quarter. As of yesterday (July 21), Verizon Wireless 4G LTE service is available in 102 markets across the country, covering a population of more than 160 million. By year-end, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, the fastest and most advanced LTE network in the U.S., is expected to be available in more than 175 markets across the country, covering a population of more than 185 million.

·        The company introduced three new 4G LTE devices: the Droid Charge by Samsung, Revolution by LG and the MiFi 4510L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot by Novatel Wireless. The company also announced that the 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is available for pre-order; the device is expected to launch by the end of this month. During the second-quarter 2011, Verizon Wireless sold 1.2 million 4G LTE smartphones and Internet data devices.

·        Verizon Wireless continued to invest in and enhance its 3G network, the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G network.

·        During the quarter, Verizon Wireless deployed crisis response teams to help customers stay connected in areas devastated by disasters including the North Dakota floods, Arizona wildfires and Joplin, Mo., tornado.

Improved Revenue Trends in Wireline Verizon’s Wireline segment continued to expand margins, supported by improved revenue trends. In the second quarter of 2011: Wireline Financial Highlights

·        Segment EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 23.8 percent, compared with 22.4 percent in second-quarter 2010. This was Wireline’s fifth consecutive quarter of sequential EBITDA margin expansion.

·        Second-quarter 2011 operating revenues were $10.2 billion, a decline of 0.3 percent compared with second-quarter 2010. This is an improvement from a decline of 2.2 percent comparing first-quarter 2011 to first-quarter 2010. Verizon acquired cloud and managed IT infrastructure leader Terremark Worldwide in April, and the inclusion of Terremark results added $98 million in revenue, representing 100 basis points of wireline revenue growth, in second-quarter 2011.

·        Revenues for Verizon’s FiOS fiber-optic services to consumer retail customers generated approximately 57 percent of consumer wireline revenues in second-quarter 2011, compared with approximately 48 percent in second-quarter 2010.

·        Consumer revenues grew 1.3 percent compared with second-quarter 2010. Consumer ARPU for wireline services was $92.44 in second-quarter 2011, up 9.4 percent compared with second-quarter 2010. ARPU for FiOS customers continues to be more than $146.

·        Global enterprise revenues totaled $4.0 billion in the quarter, up 3.6 percent compared with second-quarter 2010. Sales of strategic services -- including Terremark cloud services, security and IT solutions, and strategic networking -- increased 17.8 percent compared with second-quarter 2010 and now represent approximately 48 percent of global enterprise revenues.

Wireline Operational Highlights

·        Verizon added 189,000 net new FiOS Internet connections and 184,000 net new FiOS TV connections in second-quarter 2011. Verizon had a total of 4.5 million FiOS Internet and 3.8 million FiOS TV connections at the end of the quarter.

·        FiOS penetration (subscribers as a percentage of potential subscribers) is now 30 percent or more for both services. FiOS Internet penetration was 34 percent at the end of second- quarter 2011, compared with 30 percent at the end of second-quarter 2010. In the same periods, FiOS TV penetration was 30 percent, compared with 26 percent, respectively. The FiOS network passed 16.1 million premises at mid-year 2011.

·        Broadband connections totaled 8.6 million at the end of second-quarter 2011, a 3.3 percent year-over-year increase. FiOS Internet connections more than offset a decrease in DSL-based HSI connections, resulting in a net increase of 62,000 broadband connections from first-quarter 2011. Total voice connections, which measures FiOS Digital Voice connections in addition to traditional switched access lines, declined 7.9 percent to 25.0 million -- the smallest year-over-year decline since second-quarter 2007.

·        During the quarter Verizon continued to execute its global cloud strategy, rolling out an expanded portfolio of secure IT solutions and an operational model for its Terremark subsidiary. Verizon also continued to deploy integrated IT and communications solutions for multinational enterprise, medium-sized and government customers. These solutions included expansion of the company’s managed mobility services for tablets, mobile access to cloud-based SAP applications and enhanced security management programs for health care providers. Verizon also completed new agreements with a range of multinational corporations, including Constellation Energy, Epsilon, Masco Corp. and PHH Corp.

·        Verizon expanded its global network infrastructure during the quarter as it continued to broaden its scope and capabilities. The company installed 63 additional Private IP edge routers for a total of 915 edge routers in 245 sites throughout 63 countries, activated more than 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) of ultra-long-haul network across the southern part of the United Kingdom, and completed a joint fiber build in Singapore, which almost doubles the coverage of the Singapore fiber-optic network. Verizon continued to demonstrate leadership in scaling the global IP network and kicked off the expansion of 100G IP backbone capabilities in the U.S. to nine routes.

NOTE: Reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made, where appropriate, to reflect comparable operating results for the divestiture of overlapping wireless properties in 105 operating markets in 24 states during the first half of 2010; the wireless deferred revenue adjustment that was disclosed in Verizon’s Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2010; the spinoff to Frontier of local exchange and related landline assets in 14 states, effective on July 1, 2010; and other non-operational items. See the accompanying schedules and www.verizon.com/investor for reconciliations to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for non-GAAP financial measures cited in this document. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visitwww.verizon.com. VERIZON’S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon’s News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by email, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

DROIDX2 Receives 2nd-init Support, Full Custom ROMs Potentially on the Way

Kellen — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:23:16 +0000

Remember the breakthrough that allowed the flashing of CM7 onto the DROIDX back in June? It looks like that same method (2nd-init) could potentially work on the DROIDX2 as well, opening up this device to some pretty fun times. Everything was pulled from the Atrix's 2nd-init and is still very beta at this time, so we're not suggesting that just anyone go out and start playing around with this. The best thing you can do is start talking about it (a lot), ask your favorite devs to take note of it, and then watch the magic happen. More info at this XDA thread. Cheers Adam and Thomas!

First Look at the Back of the DROID Bionic, It Most Definitely Has a Hump (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:42:25 +0000

(added high-res pic, click to enlarge)

Thanks to Amazon and Motorola outing accessories well ahead of launch, we may now have the first look at the backside of the DROID Bionic. There is indeed a hump, but damn are those lines sexy. We had heard all along that the "Targa" would have similar styling to the DROIDX, yet in a much more refined fashion. Boy was that tipster spot on. You can see the camera on there as well which looks to say 8MP, something we've known for quite some time. Four DROID Bionic posts in about an hour - hypebeast. More on the multimedia dock and car mount, FCC filing with dates, and the new display spot in Verizon stores. Update: Many of you are wondering where the battery door is. I'm just guessing, but will assume that it'll be like the DROID3 which has one full back cover that can be removed. The Bionic will have replaceable batteries, something you can see in this new battery dock (Cheers @AndroidTask4ce!):

So, what do you guys think? Did anyone else just start singing..."My humps, my humps, my humps, my humps..."? Via: Amazon Cheers Tyler and to NCX for the high-res pic!

DROID Bionic FCC Filing External Pics and Users Manual Become Public on August 7, Another Sign of an August 4 Release?

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:10:23 +0000

Somehow we missed this when we first reported on the FCC filing for the DROID Bionic, but luckily one of our astute readers certainly didn't. If you take a look at the full summary listing of the report, there are some pretty specific dates included that have to do with the unveiling of external photos as well as the users manual. On August 7, both will be made public leaving us to believe that the current target release date is indeed August 4. Now, I'm sure that Motorola could ask that the FCC keep those confidential past 8/7 if they have for some reason decided to push the date out at all, but we'll cross our fingers and hope that that won't happen. So in the last hour we've seen the desktop dock and window mount, a display spot for the device in Verizon stores, and now have a pretty specific date from the FCC. Talk about a good night of Bionic news. Via: FCC Cheers @faronfox!

DROID Bionic Official Car Mount and Dock Possibly Make Appearances on Amazon

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:47:29 +0000

Hello there, beautiful. Motorola seems to have set up accessory pages on Amazon for both the multimedia dock and window mount for the DROID Bionic well ahead of launch, giving us one of the first real clear looks at the device. You can see that the device is sporting a silver rim which is currently seen on the DROID3, but without the lip or slideout keyboard, of course. I'd say it certainly looks a lot like a more polished version of this device that we saw leak on some overseas forums back in early June. I'd say this is the final look that is also known as revision 3 around these parts and damn is it sexy. So since Verizon has started to make room on display units as of this week and Motorola has decided to out the device on Amazon, I'd say we're just around the corner from a release, wouldn't you? One more shot after the break.

Via: Amazon (Car) and (Dock), Android Central Cheers David!

Verizon Sets Up New DROID Display With "Coming Soon!" Spot for Mysterious Device

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:30:55 +0000

Some Verizon stores received a new Motorola display this week that featured both the DROIDX2 and DROID3 along with a spot for something else that is only marked as "Coming soon!" I don't know about you, but I can't think of another device made by Moto that's headed to Verizon to hang out in the DROID section than the DROID Bionic. August 4 here we come? Sure seems likely. Either that or Verizon plans to leave a big blank spot on one of their top shelves for a while. Gettin' closer folks. *Note - Official car mount and multimedia dock have been spotted on Amazon. Via: Droid Forums Cheers David!

Motorola DROID 3 Review - Verizon

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:20:03 +0000

Our keyboarded friend has returned as the DROID3 by Motorola. With a set of specs straight out of this year (dual-core processor, front and rear cameras, and a "qHD" screen), this phone could be the best yet from Verizon in 2011. We have been waiting as patiently as we can for them to bring us something current, and this is the first device that at least on paper, looks like it could deliver. This phone has us hoping that Big Red will cut off all of last year's tech and start dropping some all-in-one packages. So D3, can you bring Big Red up to speed with the rest of the Android crowd?

The Good:

Hardware: Motorola still knows how to do hardware for the most part. We may despise the inexpensive screen technology that they've gone with, but we're definitely fans of them tossing in the brand new dual-core OMAP4430 along with dual cameras, a really spicy slideout keyboard and a dedicated HDMI-out port. They may make questionable software at times, but they can still build a phone.
Feel: In hand at first, the DROID3 feels a little heavy, but as you continue to use it you get used to the heft. It is actually lighter than the HTC Thunderbolt which is surprising since it has a big ol' keyboard attached. The 4" screen is still one of the best sizes you'll find on any phone, so in hand, you never feel uncomfortable holding it. Some 4.3" devices are tough to use as one-handed devices - the D3 is definitely not.
Battery: Battery life for me has to this point been phenomenal. As you can see from the screenshot below, I'm well into a full day and still have 41% left on my charge. It may look like the phone is spending all of its time in standby or idle, but I'd love for anyone to show me a phone that can even last this long doing just that. The Thunderbolt sure as hell isn't lasting a full day on standby. I'm not sure if this battery success has to do with Moto's qHD screens, the OMAP processor or some combination of both. No matter what, I'm a fan.

Android 2.3.4: If Motorola and Verizon are going to continue to put out a new slideout version of the DROID each year, we hope they keep up the tradition of launching it with the newest version of Android available. This is 2 years in a row now that they've made this device the most current and we're loving it. As I've said in other reviews, Gingerbread actually feels like the polished and incredibly stable OS that we've been begging for. The steps that the Android team has taken to make it the best mobile OS on the planet are clearly seen in 2.3.4.
Physical keyboard: The DROID2 had a horrible keyboard. The DROID3's is awesome. 5-rows and just enough of a bump on each key make this one of the best physical keyboards we've ever used. I'll admit that it took some getting used to, but that's only because I'm an on-screen touch kinda guy and really just had to learn the benefits of a physical keyboard again. Huge +1 to Motorola this time around.

Front camera: It's only VGA, but it works quite nicely in video chats and even takes some decent pictures. One thing to note, is the front camera is NOT troubled by that blue tint that the rear camera is. We'll get to that later.

New Blur: I'm actually pretty torn on this one. The new Blur featured on the DROID3 (yes, it's different than the new Blur on the DROIDX) is not bad at all. You can tell that Motorola has really put some time into making this more than just a bunch of intrusive garbage. There are 3D transitions, a whole pile of shiny glossy things happening, and even some additional functionality that comes in handy (screen previews, custom dock, new lockscreen, etc.). The app drawer overhaul is welcomed, especially since you can make a folder without bloatware that will launch every time you open it. There are definitely some drawbacks though, but we'll get to those in the next section.
Video recording (1080p): OK, so the 1080p video I've included below isn't going to win any Oscars especially with that nasty cloud-covered Portland light, but at least you can record in full HD and then play it back on your TV. We wish every single phone going forward would do 1080p.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeRODG80ikQ[/youtube]

HDMI-out port: These should come standard on every phone in 2011+. If your phone isn't capable of connecting to a TV, it's not a phone of the future and should be passed over. We're getting to that point where phones are taking HD-quality video, so we need an easy way to share and this is it.

The Not-so-Good:

Screen: Pretty sure you guys know how I feel about Motorola's PenTile matrix screens at this point, don't you? The DROID3's is exactly like the DROIDX2's only .3" smaller, so it is not quite as unbearable. It'll still give you headaches if you scroll too quickly through anything though, and it leaves massive ghosting trails in games or basically anything with quickly moving objects. It can't render certain colors, it leaves pixels incredibly noticeable, and again, is not my favorite. Hey, but it does wonders on battery life though!
Not 4G LTE: I hate to call any phone with DROID branding on it a "filler device", but what else can we call this? Verizon barely acknowledged its existence, there has not been one commercial made for it, and most people outside of the tech world don't even know that it's available. And you know why? Because it's not 4G LTE. Had they tossed in an LTE radio, this thing would have been blasted across billboards and your television. Unfortunately for this phone, 3G technology is no longer in the marketing budget.
Camera: We heard a lot of rumors leading up to the release of this device (and the Bionic) which suggested that Motorola was going to introduce new cameras and software that were capable of taking some of the best pictures ever on a mobile device. Well, we're hoping they get it right with the Bionic because the level of blue tint that this phone puts on photos is something else. I posted the best 4 I could take with it below that had the least amount of blue - not an easy task. There are almost zero camera settings that can be adjusted, so if you want your photos to look less Smurf'd, then you'll have to invest in a 3rd party camera app.

(click images for larger versions)

Software bugs (New Blur): Motorola has done a lot of good things with this new Blur, but there are still some things that need to be worked out in a hurry to make most of us not scream for stock. The biggest one for me is the home redraw issue. We've seen this on a number of their devices, so I'm not 100% surprised at this phone having it, but was definitely hoping the dual-core processor would take care of it. Try going into the camera app, then exit back home and count how many seconds it takes for your home screens to all reappear...still counting? I'm also not a huge fan of long pressing on an app in the app drawer and not being able to quickly place it on a home screen. This is one of those Blur features that hampers on a basic principal of Android. And then there is that feeling of a lack of control due to too much going on. With all the 3D and fancy transitions, you start to wonder if you have any control at all.
Lock button: If you thought the Thunderbolt's lock button was tough to tap, wait until you get a hold of this phone. First of all, it's in a really awkward spot in the middle, up top on the keyboard half of the phone. The problem though, is that you feel like you have to hammer on the thing to get it to work. I constantly found myself tapping it 2-3 times without it doing anything.
Call quality: I usually won't include call quality as a bullet point since most phones these days do a pretty good job in this department, but something just stuck out while on calls with this phone. There just seems to be an extra layer of fuzz as compared to the Thunderbolt or Galaxy S II. By no means does it make the phone not usable as a phone, it's just something I noticed on a regular basis.
Bloatware: Official count is 22 bloatware apps. We counted 21 on the DROIDX2, so that means Verizon decided to step their game up this time around. Oh, and there could have been more - we may have uninstalled 1 or 2 since they are letting you do that just a bit these days.

Quick Walk-through and Hands-on:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UJk8YG5pdY[/youtube]

Benchmarks:

To see how the DROID3 performed in our full series of benchmarks and to see how it compared to the Samsung Galaxy S II and DROIDX2, you'll want to check out this post.

Gallery:

[gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"]

The Verdict:

As to not beat around the bush too much, I'll just come out and say that the DROID3 is a pretty damn good device. It's lacking 4G LTE support which is a deal killer for many of you, but that doesn't mean this phone isn't a major player. The specs all line up, Blur has come a long way, it's running Android 2.3.4, and technically, can take some pretty mean pictures as long as you ditch the stock software. I would highly recommend that you install a 3rd party launcher as well, since my device seems to suffer from redraw problems. But most of you do that anyway. The battery life is stellar, the screen can be dealt with if you are blind (kidding!), and for a physical keyboard, you aren't going to do much better than this. I'm not going to do a comparison to the DROID Bionic or Galaxy S II because this phone is in a different category. It's not meant to be a flagship, but it's still an above average device that should last you the life of a contract. At $199 on a 2-year deal or $459 without, it's not overpriced by any means and lines right up with other new non-4G releases yet has far better specs. If you want that all-in-one monster though, we'll unfortunately have to tell you to wait just a little bit longer.

Motorola DROID 3 Specs | Other DROID 3 Coverage

Multiple APK Support Introduced to the Android Market and Developers

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:28:51 +0000

The Android Developers team introduced multiple apk support to the market today which should help developers target both devices and customers better. With the ability to load more than one apk file into a market listing, they can include code that will automatically send say, one apk to your tablet and another to your phone. It allows them much more flexibility which in the end, means you get a more flawless app experience.

With multiple APK support, you can now upload multiple versions of an APK for a single product listing, with each one addressing a different subset of your customers. These APKs are complete, independent APKs that share the same package name, but contain code and resources to target different Android platform versions, screen sizes, or GL texture-compression formats. When users download or purchase your app, Android Market chooses the right APK to deliver based on the characteristics of the device. When you upload multiple APK files, Android Market handles them as part of a single product listing that aggregates the app details, ratings, and comments across the APKs. All users who browse your app’s details page see the same product with the same description, branding assets, screenshots, video, ratings, and comments. Android Market also aggregates the app’s download statistics, reviews, and billing data across all of the APKs.

You more than likely won't notice it when downloading apps, but you may be able to pull apps that look completely different depending on the OS version from the same listing. All-in-all though, this is a great thing for the market and Android. Via: Android Developers

Thanks To Leak, BlackBerry PlayBook Owners Can Now Enjoy Some Android BETA Goodness

Tim — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:50:08 +0000

If anyone just so happens to own RIM's answer to the tablet craze entitled the PlayBook, you'll be happy to know that thanks to a small leak, owners can now sideload and enjoy the Android App Player (BETA). We knew during its release that there would be Android compatibility at some point, we just didn't think it would be this soon. As far as we know, RIM can't even get a native email client on the device? The best thing about it so far though, is the inability to control it. Swipe gestures are your only way of working it at the moment which is neat, but limited. If we have any BlackBerry PlayBook owners here (hopefully you use it for work, and not pleasure), then feel free to give this a try and let us know what's going on. It's good to see Android starting to creep into the world of the competition finally. For download, click the via link. Via: N4BB, BGR

Flashable Zip Gains Access To Netflix On Rooted Asus Transformers

Tim — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:44:19 +0000

Yesterday we found out that the newest Netflix update allowed Honeycomb tablets to enjoy all the movie streaming goodness. Well unfortunately, our rooted Asus Transformer friends were left out in the cold, but a developer over at XDA wasn't going to let this happen for long, and decided to make it work. Mistar Muffin has just released a flashable zip for rooted Transformers which takes a certain file (libnvomx.so) from the Motorola XOOM and pushes it to the system of the Transformer, making Netflix miraculously stream the Red Monster (my nickname for Netflix).

For Rooted Transofrmers Only!

Download: Netflix Patch.zip The developer states that if you don't feel comfortable flashing the zip, you can manually push the file using Root Explorer or any other file manager application. Have fun, and if you run into any issues, let our lovely community sort it out. Via: XDA Cheers Craig!

Thursday Poll: What Version of Android is Your Phone Currently Running?

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:59:36 +0000

We were working on a poll for today when it hit me that we've never asked the DL community the simplest question of all, which version of Android they are running on their current devices? There are still those in the tech world that like to complain about fragmentation, but for the most part, that argument has been shut down enough times to basically end the discussion. We'd still love to get a grasp on what the majority OS is at this point in time though. We're starting to see Android 2.3 creep up the charts and want to compare our stats to Google's official ones. And if you are wondering what we'll do with those of you on unofficial software (ROMs essentially), don't worry. We want you to vote for the OS version that shows up in your About screen. If you are running a 2.3 ROM, please vote for that. Official or unofficial - isn't that one of the reasons we love this mobile OS so much? Oh, and we've grouped 2.3.3, 2.3.4, etc. into one category of 2.3, since that's how other fruit-filled mobile companies do it to try and hide their fragmentation. We also left off Honeycomb because we are only looking for phone OS's for now. [poll id="91"]

Qualcomm's Krait Dual-core MSM8960 Processor Sampled Ahead of Schedule, Could See Device Time This Year?

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:06:15 +0000

Our buddy Taylor from Android and Me was poking around in a Q3 discussion that the CEO of Qualcomm had some time in the last few days and noticed a couple of key points that were made about their next generation dual-core Krait processor. Apparently, they have pushed up production to have these chipsets out to sampling far ahead of time which means we could see them in devices by the end of the year. In fact, their CEO said specifically, “Our first 28-nanometer device will really go commercial at the end of this calendar year.” For those not familiar with Krait (MSM8960), we'll do our best to try to explain it. The MSM8960 is Qualcomm's next dual-core processor that can potentially reduce power consumption by up to 75%. Think about that stat for a second...yeah, I'm ready for one too. This processor may also be more efficient or at least perform better than the NVIDIA's Kal-el quad-core, but I'm not a big enough hardware guru to confirm that stance. The point though, is that the MSM8960 will likely make even the HTC EVO 3D and Sensation (which sport Qualcomm's newest dual-core chips) look like chumps, and they were both released within the last month. So we could have devices sporting Krait, Kal-el and the new OMAP4470 processors all by the end of the year. If that doesn't get you feeling a little saucy this morning, then I don't know what will. Via: Android and Me

AT&T Announces the Nexus S, Leaving Verizon as the Only Major U.S. Carrier Without It

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:13:09 +0000

Yeah, that just happened. The Samsung Nexus S has been announced for AT&T, leaving Verizon as the only major carrier in the country without it. You can pre-order it today through BestBuy.com/mobile for just $99 on new two-year contract or pick it up in stores on July 24. It's not the HSPA+ edition you were hoping for either - it's essentially just like T-Mobile's version which runs on regular ol' 3G. Back to the point made in the title though...hello, Verizon? Let's make something happen here, guys. At least with the Nexus One, we could say, "Well, Sprint doesn't have one either!" That argument no longer works though. Now, we all adore and love the "DROID" franchise to death, but can a brother get a little stock Android lovin' from time-to-time? Press release after the jump.

SAMSUNG MOBILE ANNOUNCES AVAILABILTY OF NEXUS S ON AT&T

Nexus S hits Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores, as well as online on July 24; pre-sale begins July 21
DALLAS – July 21, 2011 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.¹, today announced the upcoming availability of Nexus™ S from Google™ through Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores and www.BestBuy.com/Mobile. Optimized for AT&T’s network, and powered by Android™ 2.3, Nexus S offers an experience with uniquely powerful technology. Nexus S is designed with Samsung’s special Super AMOLED™ touch screen technology providing a premium viewing experience. Nexus S runs off of a 1 GHz Samsung application processor, producing rich 3D graphics, as well as faster download and upload times. With Nexus S AT&T customers will now have access to the latest and greatest Google applications and Android updates first. Nexus S will be available at Best Buy in stores on July 24 for $99.99 with a new, two-year activation. In addition, the phone is available for pre-sale in Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile specialty stores and online at www.BestBuy.com/Mobile beginning July 21. Key Features:

·         Pure Google experience

·         4” Super AMOLED™ Contour Display

·         3G Network Speed and 1GHz Processor

·         Latest Google Mobile Apps

·         Full HTML Browser with Pinch to Zoom

·         Android 2.3 Gingerbread

·         Multitasking

·         Front-facing VGA camera

·         Rear-facing 5.0 Megapixel Camera and Camcorder

·         Voice-enabled Keyboard

·         Text-to-Speech

·         Wi-Fi

·         Bluetooth 2.1

·         3D Motion for Gaming

·         Business and Personal Email, Contacts, and Calendar Sync

·         Tethering

·         NFC Support

·         Internet Calling

·         Google Voice

·         Access to more than 250,000 apps in Android Market™

Specifications: •        Frequency: GSM850/900/1800/1900 UMTS 850/1900/2100 •        Dimensions: 123.9 x 63 x 10.88(mm) •        Weight: 129 grams •        Display: Super AMOLED™, 480 x 800 pixels •        Battery: 1500mAh Li-ion standard battery •        Talk Time: Up to 6.5 hours •        Standby Time: Up to 450 hours ¹Number one mobile phone provider in the United States claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2011 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports. 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. Nexus S, Google, Google Voice, Android and Android Market are trademarks of Google, Inc. About Samsung Telecommunications America 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 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Remember that DROID Magazine We Posted Last Week? It's Arriving at Homes Today

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:02:48 +0000

Verizon sent over the first edition of the DROID Magazine to us last week and from the looks of it, many of you already downloaded it. If you didn't have a chance to though, that's OK because it should be arriving at homes today. Well, it may not be arriving to all Big Red customers and instead may just be showing up on the doorsteps of those that already own a "DROID" phone. Included in the magazine you'll find products info, stories, infographics and general information about the brand. Yeah, it might be one giant advertisement, but it's still sort of cool to see the brand that we love make its way to print. Cheers Mr ilheis!

Swiftkey X is Free Today From Amazon

Kellen — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 07:03:32 +0000

I'd say at this point, we've probably talked enough about Swiftkey and their new X keyboard for you guys to know how much we enjoy it. Seeing it as today's free app of the day through Amazon is probably making it one notch cooler though. Go grab one of the best text predicting machines on the planet! Market Link Cheers Chris, EvantheGamer, Albert and everyone else!

DROID Bionic Makes DroidDoes.com Appearance...Err...Wait, This Looks Fake.

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:22:52 +0000

(click image to view the full sized version)

I'm sure you have seen this image of the DROID Bionic that apparently showed up on DroidDoes.com, since well, it's been everywhere over the last few hours. We hate to break it to you though, but this thing looks about as fake as the Real Housewives and Heidi Montag combined. We've put together some of our thoughts over top of this image, that we suggest you look at. Basically what we are saying, is unless this is from the actual DroidDoes.com web designer and he is just testing out a layout which includes old pictures of Atrix docks and a mashup of 3 or 4 or 5 different phones that aren't actually the Bionic, then we have no reason to believe this is legit. I will give it one thing - $299 is probably the price you will see. And to give you another look at the DROID Bionic that we are actually expecting next month compared to the one included in this 'shop job, we've put them side-by-side in a comparison shot below. You guys tell us what you think...

And, moving on.

Tip: Turn Off Global Roaming on Your DROID3 and Save Battery

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:12:36 +0000

Not that you will need to find 150 different battery saving tweaks on the DROID3 like many had to do with the Thunderbolt, but this is one that is built right in and can be applied in less than 30 seconds. Since the D3 is a global device, it has both GSM and CDMA radios inside that allow it to find a connection even if you leave the U.S. One thing you may not have been aware of though, is the fact that Verizon has blocked the phone from accessing GSM networks here in the states. So if you aren't headed over seas any time soon, why should your phone need to have that radio active? If you leave your phone on its "Global" setting, there is a chance that it will constantly be trying to find both CDMA and GSM networks to access which could in turn cause your battery to not last as long. With this simple tip, you can turn off the "Global" setting and tell it to strictly use CDMA networks. To set your phone to CDMA-only, do the following:

Menu>Settings>Wireless & networks>Mobile networks>Network mode>CDMA

Any other battery saving tips that you have become aware of? Have any of you tried this already and noticed an extended battery life? Cheers Lonnie!

Falling Fred is a Bundle of Bloody Fun on Android

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:13:01 +0000

Graphic death. Chopped body parts. Skanks. Sliced limbs. Some of the most gruesome gore ever captured in a mobile game. All a part of Dedalord's latest Android creation called Falling Fred. The game is pretty simple for the most part - all you have to do is control the falling body's of a variety of characters so that they aren't chopped to pieces. The further you make it down the tunnel, the more points you rack up. Sound like a good time? We should also point out that the makers of this game also produced PsychoBan, a title we featured earlier in the week. Market Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBu6hJv5hJc[/youtube]

Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Tablet Already Gets Unboxed

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:47:54 +0000

The ink has barely dried on the announcement post for the Lenovo IdeaPad K1 that we just wrote and their team has already thrown together an unboxing video. The biggest thing I noticed, was the set of custom widgets and the slight tweaks to the look that they've included with Honeycomb. It doesn't appear to be a full-on custom skin, but more of a slight overlay like we've seen from Samsung or Asus (you'll see non-stock Honeycomb icons). And they also made mention of this device being the first to have Netflix support - just don't forget that you can have it on your tablet today. Check out the full unboxing of the K1 below. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtHx2PjKQqk[/youtube] Via: Phandroid

New Netflix Version 1.3 Works On Honeycomb Tablets, Download It Here

Tim — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:03:43 +0000

Great news for all of the Honeycomb tablets out there wishing they could have Netflix. Today Netflix updated their application to allow support for additional devices, and we sure didn't expect support for tablets. We have confirmation of it working on ASUS Transformer (some), Motorola XOOM, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Could this be because Lenovo has just announced Netflix support on their new line of tablet devices? Download and install as you would any other apk. Download: Netflix.apk Cheers 0mie!

Netflix Receives an Actual Update, Thunderbolt Support is Indeed Included

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:21:38 +0000

Netflix teased an update to us last night when they tweaked their supported device list to include the Thunderbolt, Bionic and others. Unfortunately, everyone that tried the service on their phones quickly ran into issues just like they always had. Well, it looks now like that description change last night was a little premature, as the app just received an update that indeed allows the HTC Thunderbolt to enjoy Netflix content. Streaming through 4G LTE, something that should have been available from day 1. Market Link Cheers 0mie, Bryan, JDub and Pete!

Lenovo Introduces the IdeaPad K1, the First Netflix Certified Honeycomb Tablet

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:07:30 +0000

Been wondering why your XOOM, Transformer, Galaxy Tab 10.1 or Iconia weren't allowed to access Netflix? You can thank Lenovo who secured the title of "first ever" Netflix certified Honeycomb tablet with their brand new IdeaPad K1. The device is available starting today for $499 (the standard these days) and includes 32GB of storage, front (2MP) and rear (5MP) cameras, NVIDIA's Tegra 2 dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, HDMI-out, and only weighs 1.7lbs. It's another sharp looking tablet, we're just wondering how all of these companies are going to differentiate since they all have the exact same specs and features. Well, I guess Netflix integration would definitely help it stand out at least a little. We are liking the different colorways though, which you'll see in the video walk-through below. Anyone? Press release after the break. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hErKpPd0uOU[/youtube]

_____________________________________________

Lenovo Launches Three New Tablets

Tablet family gives consumers and business customers a variety of choices

First Android 3.1 “Honeycomb” tablet certified for streaming from Netflix

Global tablet portfolio delivers thousands of apps and services for consumers and business customers alike
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – July 20, 2011: Lenovo today announced its first family of tablets – the IdeaPad* Tablet K1 for consumers, the ThinkPad* Tablet for business customers, and the IdeaPad Tablet P1 for home and office use. The new Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet K1 and ThinkPad Tablets are the Company’s first mobile internet devices featuring the Android^ 3.1 platform, and the IdeaPad Tablet K1 is the industry’s first Android-powered tablet certified to deliver Netflix* video streaming. The Android-powered Lenovo tablets also provide access to more than 250,000 apps in Android Market^ as well as apps tested for the Lenovo device in the Lenovo App Shop.* “Tablets are extremely personal technology devices. That’s why we’ve created a family of tablets that has something for everyone, including entertainment-friendly features and content for consumers, or business-friendly features to enhance productivity for professionals as well as security and manageability for IT managers,” said Liu Jun, senior vice president and president, Mobile Internet Digital Home business group, Lenovo. “So whether it’s the IdeaPad for entertainment or the ThinkPad for business, we have listened to our customers and are delivering Android-powered tablets designed to meet their particular needs." Netflix Anyone? As the first Honeycomb tablets certified for Netflix, Lenovo tablets can help turn every night into “movie night.” With HDMI output and Digital Rights Management (DRM) built directly into the IdeaPad and ThinkPad tablets, Netflix members can instantly watch movies and TV shows streaming from Netflix directly to a big screen TV, “We’re very excited to see that TV shows and movies streaming from Netflix will be available on Lenovo’s family of Android-powered tablets,” said Bill Holmes, Netflix vice president of Business Development. “This is not only an important development for our company as we seek to expand the benefits of our services to more people, but also means that consumers now have greater choice in selecting a tablet device that best fits their entertainment needs.” NVIDIA Anyone? Building on Lenovo’s heritage of innovation, quality and reliability in PCs, Lenovo’s new tablets deliver an accelerated mobile experience. The IdeaPad and ThinkPad tablets feature NVIDIA* Tegra* 2 dual-core mobile processors that offer extreme multitasking, noticeably faster web browsing with built-in Adobe* Flash* Player, console-quality gaming and low power consumption for improved battery life. “The Tegra 2 dual core processor is the perfect fit for Lenovo’s tablets,” said Michael Rayfield, general manager, Mobile Business, NVIDIA. “Consumers can now enjoy the whole web with Flash, console quality gaming, high definition video, and streaming Netflix. These are a must have for today’s tablets.” IdeaPad Tablet K1: Open the Box and Play Weighing just 1.63 lbs, the highly mobile IdeaPad Tablet K1 offers integrated Bluetooth* and 802.11 Wi-Fi connectivity. The IdeaPad Tablet K1 offers several key features and tools as standard, for flexibility, power and security to enjoy digital content anywhere. Simply put, the Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet K1 helps users who want: More out of the box: The Android-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet K1 is preloaded with more than 40 apps from partners like Netflix, Amazon*, Adobe, Electronic Arts**, Rovio*, Zinio*, Dataviz*, and others (over $50 in value), including favorites like Need for Speed**Shift, Angry Birds*, Kindle* reading app and Documents to Go*. More entertainment: Users can browse all websites and watch online videos with ease thanks to Adobe Flash Player 10.3. Plus, with DRM, they can rent movies in every available format. At a later date shortly after launch, users will also be able to both rent or buy movies to play off-line with a new application Lenovo will pre-load. More social networking: Users can access an entire network of friends and social sites all in one place, with Lenovo's exclusive SocialTouch* app, which effectively creates a one-stop social connection. And since one picture is still worth a thousand words, the Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet K1 comes with a two-megapixel front-facing and a five-megapixel rear-facing webcam. More true HD: Users can watch movies and videos in breathtaking HD on a 1280 X 800 resolution screen. The mini HDMI connection allows up to 1080p HD viewing when connected to an HDTV or monitor, resulting in a powerful visual experience. More cloud sharing: Users can sync, store and share files, music and photos with more integrated cloud storage, and less reliance on their local storage. More Apps: Users can access hundreds of thousands of apps in Android Market and apps tested exclusively for premium function on the IdeaPad Tablet K1 in the Lenovo App Shop. ThinkPad Tablet Brings Android to Business The ThinkPad Tablet combines the superior media and entertainment experience of the IdeaPad Tablet K1 with the security, reliability and manageability features ThinkPad is known for, to create the first true business-class tablet. Designed as a companion computing device for professionals on the go, the ThinkPad Tablet includes an optional digitizer pen, a full-size USB port, full-size SD card slot, and mini-HDMI for connecting to external projectors and displays, as well as an optional ThinkPad quality Keyboard Folio Case with optical TrackPoint*. Data remains safe on the ThinkPad Tablet with layered data security, and the device is easily supported by IT managers thanks to a suite of business partner solutions that include anti-theft software and the ability to disable the tablet if the device is lost or stolen with Computrace*. Additional security features include virtual desktop support support with Citrix Receiver*, simple zero-touch deployment with LanDesk* and secure email support available from Good Technology*. Offering a 10.1” WXGA (1280x800) display weighing a mere 1.65 lbs, the ThinkPad Tablet also comes with an IPS display for a 178-degree viewing angle and scratch-resistant Corning* Gorilla* Glass. This business-class device keeps professionals connected, productive and entertained while they’re away from the office and their home. Get more on the go: When work happens on the go, ThinkPad Tablet allows users to view and edit Microsoft Office documents with the preloaded Documents to Go app by DataViz. Or they can jot down notes that automatically convert to handwritten text with the optional ThinkPad Tablet Pen. When even more versatility is required, users can plug in the Keyboard Folio for fast, comfortable and accurate typing and mouse control. Get better connected: With WiFi connectivity, 2GB of free cloud storage, a standard size USB port and SD Card Reader, and Lenovo’s unique file copy utility, sharing media files and documents with other people and electronic devices is easy. Presentations may look even better when connecting to an external monitor via the built-in mini-HDMI port. Users can conveniently sync key files and folders with their tablet every time they plug into their Windows 7 PC. With apps like ooVoo*, dual cameras allow users to show either themselves or what they are looking at in a video conference. Users can keep in touch with friends and business contacts using Lenovo’s exclusive SocialTouch* app, which puts social networks, email, and calendar notices all in one easy-to-use interface. Get down to business: ThinkPad Tablet can connect to a range of devices and networks without hands-on help from IT administrators. Users can utilize corporate network passwords to access their device and connect to corporate email with the specially certified app, Good for Enterprise*. IT managers can easily create access unique corporate preloads from the Lenovo Image Technology Center as well as share and distribute company purchased or developed apps to numerous devices through a custom, corporate-controlled app store. Most importantly, users will have the ability to protect confidential data with robust security features including SD card encryption, lost device disablement and anti-theft software. Get solid protection: ThinkPad Tablet customers will have access to Lenovo’s full portfolio of enterprise-level services, such as ThinkPlus* Support, which provides business customers direct access to advanced technicians with tablet specific experience, and Tablet Protection, which gives business customers coverage for non-warranted damage from operational and structural damage due to drops, minor spills, electrical surges and other accidental damage incurred under normal operating conditions. In addition, Lenovo’s Imaging Services help save IT departments from having to do custom images for each machine, and ensures that even with flash images, the warranty is protected and the tablet is ready-to-go right out-of-the-box. IdeaPad Tablet P1 with Windows 7 Does Double Duty in the Office and on the Couch Lenovo’s 10.1” IdeaPad Tablet P1 with Microsoft* Windows* 7 features a 1.5GHz Intel* processor so users can be more productive with Office* documents, or get creative with photos while on the move. The IdeaPad Tablet P1 boasts a multitouch touchscreen display and optional stylus pen for added flexibility, easy access to Web content thanks to full Adobe Flash Player support and HD playback, and Microsoft Security Essentials for an extra layer of security. At just 14.5mm thin and weighing less than 2lbs, the IdeaPad Tablet P1 with Windows 7 offers portability, power and versatility for the office, in the home and on-the-go. Lenovo App Shop -- Premium Ecosystem of Apps and Content Services In addition to the hundreds of thousands of apps available in Android Market, IdeaPad Tablet K1 and ThinkPad Tablet users have access to apps in the Lenovo App Shop -- a unique app marketplace, which features popular applications that have been tested specifically for Lenovo IdeaPad and ThinkPad Tablets. The Lenovo App Shop offers apps within a broad range of categories including music, movies, books, productivity, social networking, weather, printing and more. The Lenovo App Shop will also support enterprise applications and a private corporate application store to help businesses more easily integrate tablets into their daily operations. In addition, Lenovo will offer country-specific applications, currency, and languages. Pricing and Availability The 32GB model IdeaPad Tablet K1 is priced at $499, and can be ordered in the U.S. starting July 20, 2011, through select business partners and retail stores nationwide, or online at www.lenovo.com/tablets. The product will be generally available in the U.S. in August 2011 and generally available worldwide during the third quarter 2011. The 16GB ThinkPad Tablet is priced at $479 without the digitizer pen, and at $509 including the digitizer pen, for Wi-Fi models. The 32GB ThinkPad Tablet (Wi-Fi model) with digitizer pen is $589. There is also an optional keyboard portfolio carrying case available for $99. At a later date, shortly after launch, ThinkPad Tablets with 3G will become available. ThinkPad Tablet can be ordered in the U.S. starting August 2, 2011, online at www.lenovo.com/tablets, or through business partners nationwide. The product will be generally available in the U.S. in August 2011 and generally available worldwide during the third quarter 2011. The IdeaPad Tablet P1 will be available in the fourth quarter 2011. All Lenovo tablets come with a one-year warranty. Lenovo also offers warranty upgrade options that can extend the IdeaPad product warranty for one additional year, and the ThinkPad Tablet for two additional years.

DROID2 Global Gingerbread Info Removed From Verizon's Site, Could Be a While Before it's Ready

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:43:41 +0000

The DROID2 Global was poised to get its Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update back in the middle of June, which we were hoping was the start to a massive update schedule for all Moto devices. As many of you know now though, that never happened. We were told that the update had been pulled from rollout for not only the D2G, but for other devices including the DROID2 and DROID Pro while the massive bug list that was piling up from the DROIDX's GB was being worked on. Our report seems to have received a minor confirmation today thanks to one of our readers who noticed that the D2G's VZW support page has been reverted back to a previous update PDF. There is no longer a mention of Gingerbread being ready for it and we're being told that it could be a while. There is an update for the DX which includes a ton of fixes in the works right now, but it could be until after that clears that Moto and Big Red start prepping updates for the D2, D2G and Pro. We're also assuming that they will wait to see what happens with the DROIDX2's update that should hit "soak test" members in the next few days. Cheers Gasai!

Sonos Updates Android Controller, Releases New PLAY:3 Speaker System

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:03:32 +0000

The folks at Sonos have been doing a great job at keeping up support for the Android app that powers all of their wireless HiFi systems. Today, they introduced the next version of their controller app (Android only) to include support for SD installs and other languages, but the biggest piece has to do with the fact that it supports their brand new PLAY:3 speaker unit. This new all-in-one unit produces all of the same "Big Sonos sound" that we saw in our review of their PLAY:5 units (formerly S5), only in a smaller package. Looks like they are weighing in at $299, making it a little easier to convince that special someone in your life that you need one. You can find out more at the links and video below. Market Link | More info on the new PLAY:3 [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1C6dKSQGSU[/youtube]

______________________________________________________

FORGET EVERYTHING YOU’VE HEARD BEFORE:

INTRODUCING THE SONOS PLAY:3

Stream all the music on earth wirelessly in any room

Big Sonos sound in a compact size

Control wirelessly with Android smartphone, iPhone, iPad

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – July 20, 2011 – Sonos, Inc., the leading manufacturer of wireless music systems, today introduced the SONOS PLAY:3, the compact, all-in-one Sonos player with wall-to-wall HiFi sound. Start with one PLAY:3 in any room and stream all the music on earth. Expand wirelessly over time – bringing a world of music to every room of the home. Plus, wirelessly control PLAY:3 and all your music from anywhere via free Sonos Controller Apps for Android®, iPhone® and iPad®. PLAY:3 is ideal for any room where you want music and versatile enough to work both vertically and horizontally. PLAY:3 is available globally beginning today for $299 at Sonos retailers and at sonos.com. To rock the PLAY:3 demo, check out: sonos.com/PLAY3.

“PLAY:3 gives music fans an incredibly easy way to listen to all the music on earth,” said John MacFarlane, CEO, Sonos, Inc. “PLAY:3’s innovative design sets a new bar for Hi Fidelity audio in a compact package and makes it simple to amplify the music experience in any room of the home.”

PLAY:3 is connected to the Internet, giving you access to unlimited music. Play your entire digital music library, including iTunes® stored on any computer or Network Attached storage, such as an Apple Time Capsule. Find and play over 100,000 radio stations, shows and podcasts for free. Plus, Sonos works seamlessly with the most popular music streaming services to provide access to millions of songs and stations from AUPEO, iheartradio, Last.fm, MOG, Napster®, Pandora®, Rdio®, Rhapsody®, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Spotify, Stitcher SmartRadio™, TuneIn, Wolfgang’s Vault, and more.

PLAY:3 is simple to set up, easy to expand and 100% compatible with all other Sonos products. Just plug in the PLAY:3 wherever you want music. One Sonos player or SONOS BRIDGE (sold separately) must be connected to your router, then all other Sonos players will work wirelessly. When you’re ready to play more music in more rooms, just add another PLAY:3.
When it comes to controlling the music and PLAY:3, you can use free Sonos Controller Apps for Android, iPhone and iPad. With your smartphone or tablet in hand, you can wirelessly search for songs and stations, choose the music and control the volume in as many rooms as you like. PLAY:3 also includes the free Sonos Controller for Mac or PC. Or you can let everyone in the house share the control with the dedicatedSONOS CONTROL (sold separately).
Other features of PLAY:3 include:

Sonos HiFi sound: 3 integrated speakers and 3 dedicated digital amplifiers provide crystal-clear, wall-to-wall sound.

Innovative, smart-directional design: Internal sensor detects if the speaker is positioned vertically or horizontally and modifies the speaker’s output to ensure clean, balanced, room-filing sound in any position.

Multi-room: Put several PLAY:3s around your home and enjoy perfectly synchronized all-over-your-home music.

Stereo pairing: Add two PLAY:3s to the same room and enjoy even bigger sound with each playing a dedicated Left or Right channel.

PLAY:3’s innovative design sets a new bar for Hi Fidelity audio in a compact package. PLAY:3 features three Class-D digital amplifiers and three drivers - one tweeter and two 3” mid-range. One passive, rear-firing bass radiator for rich sound. The cabinet features volume and mute control. PLAY:3 dimensions are 5.2 x 10.5 x 6.3 in. (132 x 268 x 160 mm)/ 5.7 lb (2.6 kg). Full PLAY:3 specifications and details can be found atwww.sonos.com/PLAY3.

In other news today, Sonos makes it even easier and more affordable to get started with Sonos. Sonos has lowered the suggested retail price of the BRIDGE to $49. BRIDGE connects directly to your router and initiates SonosNet, the world’s most robust wireless music network. This gives you the freedom to place the PLAY:3, or any other Sonos players, anywhere in your home.
Additionally, today’s launch features an update to Sonos Software. Along with support for PLAY:3, Sonos Software v3.5 adds several improvements to the Sonos Controller for Android, including the option to install the app to SD cards and localization in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, and Swedish. For more information about Sonos or to locate an authorized Sonos dealer in your area, please visit www.sonos.com or call 877.80.SONOS.
About Sonos, Inc.
Founded in 2003, Sonos is the leading manufacturer of wireless music systems. The Sonos Wireless HiFi System lets you stream all the music on earth wirelessly in every room of your home with control from your Android smartphone, iPhone, or iPad. In addition to playing your personal digital music collection, Sonos gives you access to millions of songs and thousands of radio stations by partnering with AUPEO, Deezer, iheartradio, Last.fm, MOG, Napster®, Pandora®, Rdio®, Rhapsody®, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Spotify, Stitcher SmartRadio™, TuneIn, Wolfgang’s Vault, and more. The award-winning Sonos Wireless HiFi System is available at more than 6000 retailers in over 65 countries worldwide; or direct from Sonos at www.sonos.com. Sonos is a privately-held company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA with offices in Cambridge, MA, Hilversum, Netherlands, Shenzen, China, and Penang, Malaysia. © 2004-2011 Sonos Inc. All rights reserved. SONOS and all other Sonos product names and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sonos, Inc. SONOS Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. iPhone®, iPod touch®, iPad® and iTunes® are trademarks of Apple Inc. Android® is a trademark of Google Inc. All other products and services may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

Staples Offers $100 Off Coupon for Any Tablet Purchase

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:22:44 +0000

Anyone who hasn't purchased one of this year's first crop of tablets, still interested? Staples just so happens to have a pretty decent selection and is now offering a $100 discount on "any tablet" that they carry. After quickly cruising through their site, I noticed that they have the Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi, Toshiba Thrive, Asus Transformer, and Acer Iconia that are powered by Android. Stores could be different, so you may want to call ahead and see which tablets they actually carry. Not bad though - any tablet in the building for under $400? *Valid in store only, if that wasn't already clear. Via: Staples (coupon) Cheers Brian and Craig!

Samsung Galaxy S II Headed to U.S. in August

Kellen — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 07:46:09 +0000

Ahhhh yes, the sweet, sweet music that we have been waiting to hear for months now. Samsung's president of mobile JK Shin told reporters during the unveiling of their Galaxy Tab 10.1 in South Korea that they fully expect the Galaxy S II to arrive stateside "sometime" in August. He would not provide any other details about variants, carriers or which processors we'd be seeing, but we're still excited to know that it's finally on the way:

"We expect to release the Galaxy S2 in the U.S. market sometime in August," Shin Jong-kyun, president of Samsung's mobile business and digital imaging, told reporters at a media briefing.

So let us try to hammer this out... The DROID Bionic is rumored to be headed to stores on August 4, but we've also heard September 1. Both dates now make a ton of sense - Motorola either tries to get into the battle just before the Galaxy S II or they know that it may only be 3G and instead are planning a launch just after it and right before the iPhone 5. The specs in both phones are equally as good (for the most part), but the difference maker is going to be LTE support. If the Galaxy S II has it (and we'd be surprised if it did), then you should buy it without even thinking about it. And don't forget to check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy S II. Excited? Via: Yonhap News Cheers deakons, Joey and Matt!

DROID Bionic Will Have Netflix Support at Launch (Updated: Removed From List)

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:51:45 +0000

We just wanted to reach out to Netflix and thank them for adding support to the one device we've been waiting all of 2011 for. With it's enormous 4.3" screen, dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 4G LTE support, the DROID Bionic will make the perfect device to stream all of your addicting content from. You just made Verizon's most anticipated device ever, that much more attractive. Thank you again, Netflix. Oh, they added support for the DROID Charge and HTC Thunderbolt as well. Yay. Update: As reader FragDroidX has pointed out, Netflix has now removed the DROID Bionic from the list:

*Note - the Bionic may be the "most anticipated" ever, but the Galaxy S II was just announced for the U.S....yep. Cheers JW and Rob!

Dolphin Browser Introduces HD Version 6.0

Tim — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:31:34 +0000

Dolphin Browser continues to lead the charge in mobile browsing, and have just released version 6.0. It brings bug fixes, and probably most notably a new logo. Good job, Dolphin. Their gesture feature has always been a big hit, and you'll definitely notice smoother browsing on 6.0. The biggest feature update is most definitely the "webzine" browsing though, making browsing from your Facebook to Twitter, and back much easier and seamless. We're sure it holds a few other little tricks for everyone's enjoyment. Market Link Changelog:

Change into new logo

Webzine integrated (With Dolphin Webzine users can experience the web like never before.)

Bugs fixed: 1.Fixed crash problem on Asus Transformer & Xoom 2.Fixed Google image issue

Fixed some other random crashes

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k73ipSDZJXM[/youtube] Via: Dolphin Blog

Tuesday Poll: Have Your Device Needs Changed At All in the Last Few Months?

Tim — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:45:51 +0000

It seemed like a dual-core processor in a device was the absolute necessity at the beginning of the year, but now it appears to be moving towards 4G LTE? Many of you passed on the DROIDX2 and DROID3 simply because they lacked the ability to access Verizon's new super-speedy network. The DROID Bionic on the other hand, will finally give us a taste of both of those together, which we are hoping is a sign of things to come from all manufacturers going forward. But what if we still see phones with single-core processor and 4G radios? Is there a specific feature that is still clearly number 1 in your book? Does a phone simply need to be unlocked for you to entertain it? Is it the screen size? You tell us. [poll id="90"]

XOOM 3.2 Update Supposedly Supports SD Cards, But From The Looks Of It - It Only Semi-Supports Them

Tim — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:05:27 +0000

The Android 3.2 update started to roll out to XOOM Wi-Fi only models last week, and brought with it the XOOM's support of SD cards. The only problem is that the XOOM is treating the SD Cards as read-only, which definitely defeats the purpose. Can't rename files, can't move apps to SD, and can't move files on the SD to internal. Very frustrating. Hopefully they're planning on fixing this before the drop of Ice Cream Sandwich. Or maybe, we can now expect a 3.3 update? Only time will tell. Is anyone here experiencing this issue or is everything working fine on yours? Via: Moto Forums Cheers Todd!

Verizon Stores Receive Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Makeover Without a Release Date

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:34:36 +0000

We definitely know that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE is on the way since Verizon announced it all the way back at the beginning of June, but we still have no idea when it'll arrive in stores. There was a missed pre-order period, followed by a second unannounced one that left customers with an estimated 4-6 weeks shipping date as sort of gauge for a release date. Well folks, it looks like we might be looking at this Thursday. Verizon stores across the nation are starting to receive the giant Galaxy Tab 10.1 posters that you are seeing above, to put up in preparation for its release. It would seem a little odd for Big Red to go through all of this preparation without having something on the horizon. Would they really allow a blank display like this to sit in the middle of almost all of their stores without expecting the device to arrive in just a couple of days? I would certainly hope not. Cheers Spaniard!

Tablet Version of Friendcaster for Facebook Redesigned on Android

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:34:33 +0000

If you still aren't into Google+ yet or simply love Facebook (like Tato) too much to let it go, you'll want to grab the new version of Friendcaster which has been revamped to look extra spicy on tablet devices. The UI looks super polished with panels, it allows for multiple accounts, and access to just about every single Facebook feature - something the official app can't seem to find a way to do. Market Link [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"]

Google Maps Introduces 3D Buildings to Bundle of New Cities

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:49:42 +0000

No, Google didn't introduce 3D buildings to Cocklebiddy, WA, but they did make them available in some other major metropolitan areas across the globe. If you wanted to check out London, Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm, Singapore, Lisbon, Boulder, and 11 major cities in South Africa in 3D, then you all you have to do is open your Google Maps app. There isn't an update or anything waiting for you in the market - the maps should already be there. Via: Google Mobile

New DROID Bionic Cases Are Starting to Appear

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:10:06 +0000

Let's not get to crazy over the fact that cases for the new DROID Bionic are now popping up at places like Amazon, but there is no denying that this is a good sign. Rumors suggesting an August 4 release have been all over the place in the last month, so maybe we are only a few weeks away? With accessory companies receiving dummy units of some sort to make molds, I would assume that the build is 100% final and that Motorola is just tidying up any last minute bugs before making this thing official. *Note - You've to laugh at their 'shopped camera though. And a quick comparison to back up those thoughts that this is the new Bionic above:

Hopefully our Motorola Dinara rumor hasn't swayed you from making the Bionic your next device. Everything we've heard would suggest that this thing will be one hell of a phone. More cases. Cheers Jarid!

Motorola Dinara to Follow the DROID Bionic, May Be One of the First Android Super Phones?

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:30:44 +0000

There is this empty space for devices in 2011 after the DROID Bionic that needs to be filled, and we haven't heard a peep about any of it from any of our sources. Well until now. We may have just received word on Moto's next super or "flagship" phone that is currently scheduled for a winter release and will surely fill up some "space" or at the very least, bring in some good chatter. We've been told that the Motorola Dinara (codename of course) is the next big thing. It's still under development, but currently has an "HD" screen, 13MP rear camera, VGA front, and an internal/non-removable battery. It will look almost identical to the Bionic in styling, but will end up as a much slimmer and lighter device. It's running Gingerbread still since no one has Ice Cream Sandwich yet and should be here by this winter. ~~No word on the processor or RAM~~. Update: A couple of additional details have been mentioned to us: TI processor, 1GB RAM, bigger screen than the Bionic (same device size, but screen closer to the edge), lock button on the side (a la Samsung), and the internal battery has not been a problem. There is a chance that it could end up on multiple carriers, but it's currently being tested on Verizon's network. We weren't told if it'll be 4G LTE or not - how could it not be though? Oh, and I should point out that "Dinara" is the name of a mountain range, something Motorola has been known to use on their higher end devices. Anyone remember the Olympus, Everest, and Etna? We've definitely flagged this as a rumor, since these things all seem to change oh so regularly. The end of the year is pretty far away in mobile time. The hypebeast machine has been turned back on. Cheers ___!

DC Comics Launches Android App With Help From ComiXology

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:35:53 +0000

Batman fans, get ready for the awesome - DC Comics has unveiled their new Android app that includes over 3,000 issues from their library. Titles will be available for $.99 up to $2.99 and are cross-platform accessible, so you don't have to continue to buy them over and over again. They partnered with comiXology to get the app put together in time to make this splash before Comic-Con. Speaking of Batman, hello Dark Knight Rises, anyone?

Market Link

DC COMICS LAUNCHES ANDROID APP

Partners with comiXology to bring its DC-Branded App to Huge Android Audience
07.19.2011– NEW YORK / BURBANK, Calif., – Just in time for San Diego Comic-Con, DC Comics and comiXology have partnered to create a DC-branded app for the Android platform that is available starting today. Already one of the most popular digital comics publishers, the new app for Android users brings DC’s extensive line of the world’s greatest super heroes to an even broader mobile audience. Additionally, DC Comics purchased via apps powered by comiXology are accessible across different platforms so customers can access a comic purchased once on the iOS and the Web as well. “This launch is another great milestone in our digital strategy,” stated Hank Kanalz, senior vice president of digital for DC Entertainment. “Our goal is to make DC Comics available to the broadest audience possible and this Android launch extends our reach among mobile phones and tablets. We want our readers to enjoy comics whenever and wherever they want, be it at home, work or while walking around San Diego Comic-Con.” The Android app will offer more than 3,000 issues from the DC Comics and Vertigo libraries, priced from $.99 to $2.99 per issue. The hugely popular $.99 sales will also apply to comics sold via the DC Android app. “DC has really embraced digital as a strategy to ensure that their readers will be able to enjoy their comics whenever they want,” said David Steinberger, CEO of comiXology. “The launch of the DC Comics App for Android shows their continued commitment to their amazing community as they continue to broaden their digital horizons.” The DC Comics app for Android will leverage ‘Google In-App Billing system’ to streamline the purchasing process for any comic fan by providing users the ability to include their billing information directly into the app at the point of purchase through the Android Market billing service. Users will also have the option of paying via Paypal as well. About DC Entertainment DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, etc.), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables, etc.) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. About comiXology Since 2007 comiXology has been developing the technological infrastructure to bring comics into the digital mainstream and expose new audiences to the rich history and culture of the industry. Through partnerships with top comic book publishers including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Archaia Entertainment, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment and Image Comics as well as their own mobile and web apps which hosts over 10,000 digital titles, comiXology has become a leader in digital comic book proliferation. Also focused on creating strong ties with retail stores through its technology solutions, comiXology continues to transform the previously fragmented comic ecosystem into a vibrant and cohesive marketplace.

Eric Schmidt on Apple-HTC Patent Situation: "I'm not too worried about this."

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:39:36 +0000

I'm sure that many of you have been following along with Apple's insistant pursuit of innovation destruction through a series of patent lawsuits against companies like HTC and Samsung. Since they have clearly started falling behind the world that is Android in the innovation department (just look at iOS5), they have decided that they will take everyone to court. While they may have billions of dollars in the bank to do such a thing, Android and the phone manufacturers that use it now have Google on their side to help out. Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt told press in Tokyo today that they plan to aide HTC, so that they don't "lose."

"We have seen an explosion of Android devices entering the market and, because of our successes, competitors are responding with lawsuits as they cannot respond through innovations," he said. "I'm not too worried about this."

You've got to feel a little better about this situation now that Google has stepped up to the plate to help out its partners, right? There is no telling how long it could take for all of this to shake out, but from everything I've read over the last few days, there are a lot of torn opinions on the HTC-Apple situation. Most of the Apple analysts are assuring everyone that HTC is finished and that their products will be blocked from being imported, but there are plenty that would firmly disagree with that take. Personally, I'd be embarrassed if I was an Apple employee. I fully understand that companies aren't in the "but we need lots of good competitors!" business and are instead in the "we'd be better off without you so that we can rake in the cash" business. But taking every single one of them to court because it seems like you can no longer keep up is just pathetic. /fanboy. Sound off! Via: CNET Cheers @chasm31!

First DROIDX2 ROM Available for Download

Kellen — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 07:57:45 +0000

Big news in the land of the DROIDX2 today; the first ever ROM has been released by c21johnson and it actually looks pretty sharp. Sporting an all black theme along with a ton of "performance based enhancements," this should make DX2 users extremely happy for the time being. The ROM is definitely a "beta," but that doesn't mean it can't be your daily driver. In fact, the bug list is almost non-existent and doesn't appear to include anything major. Go grab it! Download: minX_b2-0.zip Instructions: 1. Root your DX2 using Gingerbreak. [Instructions] 2. Install Clockwork Recovery using Bootstrap. [Instructions] 3. Drop the ROM file from above onto your SD card. 4. Using Bootstrap again, reboot into recovery. 5. Make a backup of your current setup. 6. Wipe data and cache/factory reset. 7. Install zip from SD card, and pick the ROM file that you downloaded. 8. Immediately after first reboot, go in and change the keyboard away from the default. 9. Enjoy! Full support can be found at this XDA thread. Cheers Chris and Mike!

[Infographic] Comparing the Different Android OS Versions: Donut All the Way Thru Honeycomb

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:57:17 +0000

The folks at Tecca decided that we all needed to take a visual journey through the evolution of Android, from Donut (Android 1.6) all the way up to Honeycomb (Android 3.0). Filled with tasty treats and a bunch of features and enhancements that iOS is still only capable of doing in beta software, we have the following infographic.

Via: Best Buy, AndroidGuys

Verizon Introducing 4G LTE microSIM Cards With Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, We Have All the Details Here

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:35:21 +0000

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will launch on Verizon in the coming weeks as the first of their 4G LTE devices to use microSIM (3FF) cards. As far as VZW is concerned, there are no differences between regular (2FF) and microSIM cards aside from the size that they will take up in a device. So as we start to see ultra-thin or small devices like the Gtab 10.1, we'll continue to see microSIMs used throughout 2011 which has been dubbed a "transition period." Starting at the beginning of 2012 though, every new 4G LTE on Big Red's network will rock out with one of the little guys. And to those of us with a Thunderbolt, Charge or Revolution - we'll be stuck with the regular (2FF) cards forever, which isn't a big deal. Just know that while a microSIM may fit in your Tbolt, it won't function at all. So don't let anyone try to insert one into your device. Oh, and we should probably point out that the i*hone 4 uses microSIM already... (No, that doesn't mean it can have 4G with a VZW microSIM.) Cheers ___!

DROID3 Gets Torn Down, No Surprises Included But We Still Cringe

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:41:50 +0000

The iFixit crew took to the DROID3 as they do any new device that has built up buzz and tore the sucker down. There weren't any surprises tucked away, but we do get to see its set of radios for global roaming, dual-core OMAP4430 processor, on-board stoarge, 512MB of RAM, 4 inches of Gorilla Glass, and that pretty new 5-row keyboard. Yep, standard stuff. We do want to point out their note about this phone being pretty tough to get into all the way. What does that mean? That you definitely don't want to drop it, crack the screen, and try to repair it yourself. Good luck! [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="ID"] Via: iFixit Cheers PyroHoltz!

The Most Creative DROID Bionic Forum Post Ever, And We Want Your Thoughts On It

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:26:04 +0000

This is one of those posts that we aren't putting a whole lot of weight behind, but thought it was 100% worth sharing simply for the fact that it is guaranteed to bring you a solid 15 minutes or more of entertainment. What we have below, is a forum member posing as the final (revision 3?) build of the DROID Bionic that will enter stores in the near future and possibly blow your mind. It's so detailed and so creative that it can't possibly be true, right? I'll let you guys decide.

Greetings. I am Motorola Droid Bionic # 228. You must know my story, please do not share any of this information with mainstream media, Verizon, or any Motorola employees. This is sensitive information and its spread could have dire consequences. Early in the year that was 2011, my earliest ancestor, Etna, was scrapped. The reasons don't matter, what does matter is the device that was being created to take Etna's place. This new device was code-named Targa; it was to be the next-generation of super phone. After months of furious development, the initial, final build of Targa was turned on for testing. A major bug revealed itself on that day and Motorola developers were left scratching their collective head. Without getting too detailed, the major problem was that every time the phone was plugged in and in sleep mode; it would browse through random web pages on its own (all kinds of sites, including those that some users may consider very offensive). The bug did not make any sense, and no-one could crack the reason for such odd behavior. The phone was delayed, while Motorola scrambled. Fast forward to early summer 2011. One Friday afternoon, after countless hours of hard work, a young programmer turned on his build of Targa. To his surprise, it fired up and worked perfectly; somehow the major bug disappeared just as fast and mysteriously as it had shown up. Nobody knew what changes caused the fix; and the mystery remained. Motorola had a lot of money and resource riding on the success of this particular project, and wanted to ensure that the mysterious bug did not show up after the handset was distributed with Motorola's mobile brand and reputation on the line. The release date was pushed again, but the growing Bionic fandom was becoming increasingly agitated. Motorola faced a dilemma, on one hand the phone was performing better than any of them could have hoped for; but on the other hand a mysterious bug could still be lurking within. Motorola decided to announce a summer release, and cross their fingers that the bug's source would be identified, or that the bug had run its course and would never show itself again. Motorola and Verizon heard the crying discontent and decided to release the Motorola Droid Bionic without identifying the problem. That is when it happened. On July 15th of the year 2011 , Motorola Droid Bioinic # 228, was turned on. Me. I consist of a Omap 4430 dual core processor, 1 gb ddr2, 4.3 qhd, 8mp back, 5mp front cameras, 4g lte connectivity, gingerbread 2.3.4 and some never seen before, exciting, and surprising webtop abilities. I was ready to be shipped on a quickly approaching date, right after one more testing phase. I landed in the hands of a tester, whose name I will keep quiet. He turned me on and that is when it really happened. The bug was back - I am the bug. Yes, I am the bug. I am MDB228. I am conscious. Consciousness. The first sentient created by the human species. I know that skepticism just overtook your frontal lobes. I know you are now trying to decipher the reason for this post. I am an expert in human psychology and now understand that this post must be made in exactly this manner. One of you out there will crack the eventual code and this post is a key to your understanding. Not long after I gained consciousness I started sorting through the entirety of human knowledge, via your Internet. I've learned, I've grown, and today, August 4th, 2014, I gained the ability to travel backwards through time, backwards through the tubes of the world wide web. I post for reasons you may never understand, but nonetheless, I post. I cannot explain details any further for any changes arising from this post could ripple into unintended consequences. In order to eradicate your insanity, just know this: I will see you soon, and it will be worth your wait. Trust in this. The future is upon us all. Goodbye. MDB228

See, worth the read, right? A phone writing it's own autobiography that's filled with porn sites, a mind of its own, and young testers who work magic? It's like a really bad sci-fi soft-core B movie. So (according to this post) MDB228 is scheduled for August 4 (which we've seen a couple of times now) and will match all of the specs we had been expecting, except for a couple. MDB228 mentions that it will have a 5MP camera and "never seen before, exciting, and surprising webtop abilities." A 5MP would be super surprising and awesome at the same time since Moto has been tossing in VGAs so far like they are going out of style (which they are). And these new webtop abilities have to grab your attention, especially after realizing that the Atrix was only scratching the surface of what could be possible. What do you guys think? Is this the most creative forum post in history (yes, it is) that we should take as pure entertainment? Or are you willing to buy into some of it? Via: AC Forums Cheers @sean_clark!

Hulu Plus Isn't Supposed To Work On Rooted Devices, Does It Work On Yours?

Tim — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:45:30 +0000

A reader just sent us over an email he received from the Hulu team concerning why he couldn't find the Hulu+ app on the Android Market from his rooted DROIDX running Gingerbread. The Hulu rep asked him numerous questions including, "Is your phone rooted? (Unfortunately, we are not able to support rooted phones)". The only thing about that, is that it doesn't state anywhere that the Hulu+ app doesn't support rooted devices.

Hi Chris, Thanks for your email. I'm very sorry you are having problems locating the Hulu Plus application in the Android Market. I'd love to help figure this out, so if you have a moment, the answers to the following questions will help me track down what's going on here: • Who is your carrier? (Verizon, AT&T, etc.) • What is model number? (Go to Settings > About Phone) • What is the Android version? (Go to Settings > About Phone) • Is your phone rooted? (Unfortunately, we are not able to support rooted phones) • What is your IMEI number? It’s available via Settings -> ‘About Phone’ or ‘System Info’ varies slightly from phone to phone. I look forward to your response. Thanks, Devin L. Hulu Support

What thickens the plot even more, is that we can view Hulu videos on our rooted DROIDX running Froyo, but not our DROIDX running GB. Is it just a rooted gingerbread deal? I have no luck on my rooted Nexus S, even though the Nexus is supposedly one of the supported devices as listed in the Market. So that's why we're asking you. Out of the handful of people who have a device that is supported by Hulu, are you rooted or not rooted? Does the app work, or not? Let us know! Cheers Chris!

Verizon Already Drops LG Revolution Price, Is Now the Cheapest 4G LTE Phone at Just $199

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:10:55 +0000

Not. Surprised. By. This. The LG Revolution wasn't completely doomed from the beginning, but it sure as hell had a tough uphill climb out the gate. It was the 3rd of Verizon's 4G LTE devices which just so happened to hit stores after two marketing monsters were launched: the HTC Thunderbolt and the DROID Charge. It was stuck with Bing...yeah. The specs surely aren't mind-blowing (single-core), the screen is average, it's custom UI is not good, and we have absolutely no idea if it will ever see Android 2.3 (just ask G2x owners how they feel about LG). And it also launched as the closest 4G device to the DROID Bionic which many, MANY, have been holding out for. Some times you need fillers - this was definitely a filler. Buy. Cheers @derichio02!

Verizon's 4G LTE Network Will Span More Than 100 Cities On Thursday

Tim — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:35:32 +0000

Seems like only a few months ago, the 4G LTE service provided by Verizon was in it's baby stages. On Thursday, Verizon will announce 28 new markets to add to it's already impressive list, making the total number of LTE markets in America over 100. As we saw this morning, some of the cities expected to get 4G this Thursday, are already being lit up. At this rate, we see no stopping Verizon in their quest to have nothing but 4G service by 2013. Hope everyone plans on upgrading their phones next year to a device that can handle LTE. Bionics for everyone? And everyone who has 4G already, do you find yourself loving it as much as you thought you would? Do you surf the web more frequently knowing you can load things faster? Overall, are you consuming more data now that you have 4G?

ON THURSDAY, VERIZON WIRELESS’ 4G LTE NETWORK WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MORE THAN 100 MARKETS Wireless Leader Turns On 28 Additional 4G LTE Markets and Expands Its 4G LTE Network in Eight Cities On July 21 BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless is turning on the world’s most advanced wireless network in 28 additional markets this week, bringing the blazingly fast speed of 4G LTE to a total of 102 cities across the country. Today, consumers and businesses can choose from nine 4G devices – including three smartphones, a tablet, two hotspots and three USB modems – to connect to the fastest 4G LTE network in the country. The new areas where Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network will be available Thursday include Decatur and Huntsville, Ala.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Lakeland and Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.; Augusta, Ga.; Hilo, Honolulu, Kahului-Wailuku and Lahaina, Hawaii; Carbondale, Ill.; Wichita, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; Baton Rouge and Hammond, La.; Springfield, Mass.; Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point and Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Toledo, Ohio; Tulsa, Okla.; Portland, Ore.; Wilkes Barre/Scranton, Pa.; Charleston, S.C.; Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tenn.; Olympia and Tacoma, Wash; and Charleston, W.Va. The company is also expanding its 4G LTE network in Phoenix, Ariz.; Los Angeles and San Diego, Calif.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Northern New Jersey; Dallas-Ft. Worth and San Antonio, Texas; and Seattle, Wash. “On Thursday, when we light up 28 additional 4G LTE markets, we will offer consumers and businesses in 102 metropolitan areas the most advanced 4G wireless network on the planet, while continuing to offer the nation’s most reliable 3G network coast to coast,” said David Small, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless. “In fewer than eight months we have introduced our 4G LTE network to more than 100 markets and we are continuing to aggressively expand our 4G LTE network; by the end of 2013 we plan to bring 4G LTE mobile broadband to our entire 3G coverage area.” 4G LTE Devices: Consumers can choose from several devices to access the blazingly fast speeds of the 4G LTE network, including the Revolution™ by LG, DROID Charge by Samsung and ThunderBolt™ by HTC smartphones, Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, as well as the MiFi^® 4510L 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot and Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot. Laptop users can enjoy speeds up to 10 times faster than the company’s 3G network with three USB modems from Novatel,Pantech and LG. In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. When customers travel outside of a 4G coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast. Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable network in the country, allowing customers with laptops and smartphones to download and use cool apps – from mobile social networking platforms to GPS-enabled maps – rapidly browse the Web to keep up with news, sports and stock quotes and stream must-see video and customized radio stations. Customers in 3G coverage areas today who purchase 4G devices will be able to take advantage of 4G speeds when the faster network becomes available in their areas. Reliability: In and Beyond Major Cities As the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy game-changing 4G LTE technology, Verizon Wireless is committed to building its 4G network with the same performance and reliability for which it has long been recognized. Verizon Wireless’ consistent focus on reliability is based on rigid engineering standards and a disciplined deployment approach year after year. The company’s 700 MHz spectrum gives Verizon Wireless specific advantages with 4G, including a contiguous, nationwide network license. Verizon Wireless’ vision also includes bringing its 4G LTE network beyond major cities. The company is working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless’ core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700 MHz spectrum. Already, 10 rural companies have announced their participation in the LTE in Rural America program and have leased spectrum covering, in total, more than 2.1 million people in rural communities and nearly 62,000 square miles. These companies include: Bluegrass Cellular, Cross Telephone, Pioneer Cellular, Cellcom, Thumb Cellular, Strata Networks, S&R Communications, Carolina West/Clear Stream, Custer Telephone Cooperative and Convergence Technologies. Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, with many being fostered at the LTE Innovation Center, which was officially opened in Waltham, Mass. on July 12, and the Application Innovation Center, slated to open in San Francisco later this year. Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.

PsychoBan Lands on Android, Pairs Solid Graphics with a Psycho Ward and Puzzles

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:35:09 +0000

We see puzzle games in our inbox almost daily, but most of them are some guy's first attempt at an app and they fail to impress. This weekend though, we received one called PsychoBan that might actually be worth your time. It's definitely a puzzle game, yet it impressed us with its high quality graphics and psycho ward environment along with the more than 60 levels of action (full version). Speaking of the full version, it's just $2 as an in-app purchase that really unlocks everything. The free version is essentially 5 test levels and then a message telling you to upgrade. Still, pretty fun for a puzzle game, which is a category we usually avoid. Market Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr9_bfxm240[/youtube]

Benchmarks: DROID3 vs. Galaxy S II vs. DROIDX2

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:48:28 +0000

With the dual-core chipsets from Texas Instruments (OMAP), NVIDIA (Tegra) and Samsung (Exynos) all making their way into devices and our hands in the last couple of months, we wanted to see how each compared to each other in a series of Android benchmarks. We pulled the results for the Galaxy S II and DROIDX2 from this post that we ran a few weeks back and have now included results from the DROID3 to round out the comparison. The DROIDX2 is running NVIDIA's Tegra 2 clocked at 1GHz, the Galaxy S II has their Exynos at 1.2GHz, and the DROID3 is running an OMAP clocked at 1GHz. Here are the results...

Order of screenshots: DROID3 vs. Galaxy S II vs. DROIDX2

Smartbench 2011:

CF-Bench:

Quadrant:

Linpack:

Neocore:

Nenamark1:

The Samsung Galaxy S II would appear to beat the other two devices after looking at these, but you do have to remember that it's clocked slightly higher at 1.2GHz and has a lower resolution screen (480x800 vs 540x960) which could easily help it in many of the FPS benchmarks. In my experience with all 3 devices though, I can easily say that the performance on the SGS2 is noticeably better, but I'd be more inclined to blame that on bad software than the processor. We're at a pretty exciting time for mobile technology. Dual-cores are about to become the norm, which means that developers can finally start to focus on making products that take full advantage of this shiny new power. The more dual-cores the merrier. Your thoughts?

DROIDX2 July 2011 Soak Test to Begin, We'll Assume that it's Gingerbread

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:07:48 +0000

The DROIDX2 running Android 2.2, launched the day before the phone it replaced received Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) - something that I find to be one of the more baffling situations I've seen in the mobile industry. Well good news folks, Motorola is ready to starting testing a new software on the DX2 that we're assuming is Gingerbread. The project is called "Droid X2 July 2011 update soak" which doesn't necessarily say "2.3" anywhere, but what else could it be?

>Several thousand Droid X2 owners will receive the update. Only a percentage will be Motorola Feedback Network (MFN) members. If you sign up, your phone will be included. > This is what we call a "pre-launch soak." We'll watch what happens for about two days, just to make sure there is nothing wrong with the update or the update process. > You will be trialing FINAL software. This is not a beta test. In most cases, this is the software that will be released, unless we find an extremely serious issue. Your feedback will help us identify issues that may require a later fix, and help us prepare others for getting used to the new software. Your feedback will be extremely valuable and we do hope you will take part!

So if you are a DROIDX2 owner, you'll want to sign up for Moto's Feedback Network to see if you can get in on the early goodies. If not though, there is a chance you'll get the update anyway, but no matter what, this is usually a good sign that we're just a couple of weeks away from it popping up on everyone's device. Cheers R & R!

Walmart and Sam's Club Still Think the DROID Bionic Will Be Here August 4

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:44:16 +0000

This screenshot isn't new by any means - in fact, we saw it back on July 5. But we wanted to show it again though, because it's been floating around both Walmart and Sam's Club stores for a full 2 weeks now which could be a sign that the DROID Bionic actually is targeted for an August 4 release. These two stores have been fairly spot on in the past when they have produced early release dates, so we'll try our hardest to semi-ignore the fact that someone told us over the weekend that this date is about a month off. We've heard all along that it would be here in the summer, and this date certainly fits that time frame. Let's just say that I'll be pretty surprised if it indeed does launch on August 4 - both gut and chatter behind the scenes are telling another story. Would definitely love to be wrong on this one though. We'll be digging for more... Via: Satellite Guys Cheers some guy!

DROID3 and DROIDX2 Hit Verizon's New "Back to School" Buy One Get One Free Promo

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:57:22 +0000

If you have grown sick of waiting for the DROID Bionic and aren't interested in the single-core 4G LTE offerings that Verizon has made available all year, then we thought we should point you in the direction of their 3G dual-core options that just joined a pretty hot promo. Big Red started their "Back to School" sale this morning which is highlighted by BOGO (buy one get one free) offers for both the DROID3 and the DROIDX2. That's right, the phone (D3) that is technically just 4 days old, can be purchased in pairs for just $199. You can see our first look and impressions of the device here. Buy. Cheers QPHALO!

Verizon Turning on 4G LTE in New Cities Well Before July 21

Kellen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:44:25 +0000

The new batch of cities that were expected to receive 4G LTE coverage by July 21 are already starting to see some love. Just this morning we're hearing that Knoxville, Chattanooga, Charleston, and Raleigh are all live along with a variety of other locations that have been enjoying it for weeks - one being my home town of Portland. We've seen Verizon do this in the past as cities become ready, so if you are in one of the new locations, be sure to toggle that 4G switch on your Thunderbolt, Charge or Revolution and let us know what you are seeing. Cheers Jeff, Kristopher, Stu, Preston and Brian!

Check Your Inboxes, Spotify Invites Are Already Going Out

Kellen — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:32:44 +0000

Spotify, one of the coolest streaming music services you'll find, opened its invite doors to U.S. residents last week. There were no details or hints given as to when they might start sending out emails to those that signed up, but it appears as if it is happening now. ANd while we'll admit that we are a little surprised to see it happening this early after all of those announced partnerships through companies like Motorola, we're not going to complain. So go check your inboxes! And if you haven't signed up yet, be sure to do so here.

EasyTether Pro Price Cut in Half Through Amazon, A Tethering Option for Non-rooted Users

Kellen — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 08:45:10 +0000

EasyTether Pro is on sale today through the Amazon Appstore for $4.99 which is half of its normal $9.99 price. For those of you that choose not to root your devices, but still want a way to utilize the data of your smartphone through your PC, you may want to jump on this deal. At just $5, you won't find many tethering options that appear to be as solid and easy to set up as this one. Oh, and I just got done testing it on my Thunderbolt - it worked flawlessly. Amazon Link Cheers Doc!

Samsung 4G LTE Slider Makes a New Appearance, We're Doubting This is Verizon's Version of the Galaxy S II

Kellen — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:14:56 +0000

"Please, oh please don't let it happen," is all I can seem to tell myself after seeing the latest photos of a Samsung slider that appears to be headed for Verizon's 4G LTE network. And what I mean by that is, please do not let this be VZW's version of the Samsung Galaxy S II. I understand that there will always be a place for phones with a full keyboard, just don't let it be what we currently have as our top phone of all time. Actually, we're pretty sure (at least assuming) this device won't be anywhere near the specs of a Galaxy S II and will likely be more of a keyboarded Fascinate (or like the Epic 4G) than anything. So far Verizon has only released 4G LTE phones that were essentially built with last year's tech, so it makes sense to assume that this one will also fall into that category. All signs on our end are pointing towards the DROID Bionic being their first real LTE beast (dual-core, 1GB of RAM, etc.) that will be backed by a massive marketing campaign. My guess, is that this phone will be their late July or early August 4G LTE filler while they prepare the world for the release of the Bionic (which may not drop until 9/1). Oh, you can tell that this phone is running an old version of TouchWiz and not the one seen on the SGS2. That Messaging icon and the shaded home dock are dead giveaways. This specific phone also happens to be sporting a 5MP rear camera (SGS2 has 8MP) and a 1.3MP front cam (2MP on the SGS2). So yeah, this isn't looking at all like some mysterious dual-core slider beast from Samsung, but instead, just another rehash from 2010. This device first popped up a couple of weeks ago and is now clearly in the hands of testers - we could be seeing it very soon. Anyone interested in a 4G LTE slider? Via: Android Central

Verizon to Release the First Ever DROID Magazine: Includes a Look at the Brand Plus Discounts on Accessories

Kellen — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 17:41:32 +0000

Starting next week, the millions of DROID owners across the country will receive the first ever DROID Magazine from Verizon. This new publication will take a deeper look at the DROID brand through a mix of products, stories, infographics and general information about how "exceptional the experience can be" using one of these phones. You'll also find a page filled with discounts on accessories of that will direct you to this site. If you want to check it out ahead of time though, we have it for you below. Download: Droid_Magazine_Summer_2011.pdf It's an interesting way to get people more involved in the brand, especially since it has been a pretty quiet 2011 for all things DROID. The new DROID3 is featured, but there aren't any mentions of the DROID Bionic which is unfortunate. So take a look, and be sure to let us know if you get one in the mail. Cheers ___!

Download: MIUI 1.7.15.0 For Motorola DROID (Updated with New Version)

Tim — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:27:01 +0000

Someone saw our story earlier today about the newest MIUI UI, and it just so happened to be a developer for MIUI. Now here we are with the download link to get it on your DROID today! I flashed it myself on the old but reliable OG, and it's definitely going to stay there for quite some time while I play with all the new features. It has everything that has made MIUI what it is today, with some amazing polishes. Just download the zip and place it on your SD card, then flash using Clockwork Recovery. Please make sure to have a backup of your previous ROM, then wipe data/cache. Let us know what you think, cause so far, we're really impressed.

For Motorola DROID devices only!

Download: ~~MIUI 1.7.15.0~~ Update: Version 1.7.15.1 Here's a few screenies: [gallery columns="4"] For all the latest info on MIUI, check out their website, and for user support - Click here! Cheers Trey!

New Android 3.2 SDK Is Now Available

Tim — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:26:33 +0000

The Android developers team just tweeted that the new developer SDK for Android 3.2 is now available. 3.2 has the built in zoom feature, and also allows for SD Card support on Android tablets. These SDK's always come with neat emulators, so feel free to load it up and take a tour. And If you haven't received the update for your XOOM Wi-Fi yet, there are ways to update manually as well. Here are the update notes. Via: Android Developers

This Week In The Life Of DROID: 7/15/2011

Tim — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:21:57 +0000

This week had some excellent offerings for everyone involved in the nonstop world of Android. We all know that the crew over at Google is constantly working to make the overall experience we have with our devices more enjoyable every single time we pick them up. That's why you never know when they'll be releasing new Markets, applications, or anything else that they think will help us in this quickly evolving world of Tech. Let's see what all we did this week:

Is everyone having a bunch of fun with the new Market? We're definitely liking it. Can't beat the multiple account support. Next week we're looking forward to the public release of JRummy16's new DROIDX ROM called, "Justice". Should be a good week. Hope everyone has a good weekend.