Android Community |
- Motorola Xoom 3G Android 3.2 Update Beginning “Soak Test”
- NVIDIA Kal-El still a few months away?
- Seagate GoFlex Satellite HDD gets Android support with app
- The Economist app comes to Android
- WIMM Labs 1.4″ Wearable Android Platform hands-on [Video]
- Layar Vision puts augmented reality over real world objects with no tags needed
- Unofficial Honeycomb OS available for Logitech Revue, assuming you are brave
- Samsung: Australian Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales will go ahead
- Motorola Pax To Be a Dual-Core BlackBerry Killer!
- Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Tablet Review
- Apple vs Samsung: Who Will Sell More?
- Sony S1 and S2 Details Leak, Including Possible Announcement Date
- Samsung Galaxy S II Being Sold for less than $20 by Bell Canada [Update: It was a Glitch]
- Samsung Device Creeps Through FCC, Is it the Galaxy 3D?
- Verizon Wireless Offering $50 Off a Tablet when you buy a Phone
- Motorola Droid Pro Heads to Cellular South as the Milestone Plus
- LG THRILL 4G Review
| Motorola Xoom 3G Android 3.2 Update Beginning “Soak Test” Posted: 02 Aug 2011 10:48 AM PDT While we are still waiting for some official news we are now hearing that Motorola is about to start the “soak test” or beta run of the Android 3.2 Honeycomb update for the Motorola Xoom 3G. The Wi-Fi model as well as other tablets have already been updated and Xoom owners have just been sitting back although Motorola did say we would get it in the “coming weeks”.
Not only are Xoom 3G (err 4G) owners still waiting for that 4G upgrade but we also have yet to get Android 3.2 when many other tablets have already seen the update. Just makes us wonder how committed Motorola actually is to the Xoom these days but maybe we are just being hard on them. The Android 3.2 SDK you can download here, and for a rundown on what you can expect to see in the 3.2 Honeycomb update here is our quick Android 3.2 Honeycomb Guide. Lately Motorola has been quick with updates so we should maybe see this start rolling out by the end of the week. We will report back when we see or hear more. Device Info
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Dimension & Weight
Battery & Power
Software
Hardware
 Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
 [via Droid-Life] )
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| NVIDIA Kal-El still a few months away? Posted: 02 Aug 2011 10:27 AM PDT You may remember when NVIDIA announced the Kal-El platform but if not here is our rundown of the event. While we haven’t heard much regarding the release of the quad-core powered processor that should land in Android tablets soon, they did originally suggest an August 2011 launch.
With it now being August and we’ve still not heard much regarding these quad-core beasts it is fairly safe to say they are still a little ways out. NVIDIA hasn’t said much regarding the chipset but we have seen a few product and game demos that do look mighty impressive. Here is a demo unit hands-on video, and some benchmarks showing why we should be excited for Kal-El. Some new reports are suggesting we wont be seeing these hit the shelves until a later date, possibly when things start to get a little colder in places like the U.S. but we are still on track for before Thanksgiving. NVIDIA’s Q3 ends a little later than most so we might just end up seeing Kal-El come late September or early October and barely hit that launch time-frame. Remember that with something as powerful as Kal-El (probably named Tegra 3 or 4) it will take time to iron out the bugs but once we have these truly super-tablets the market should really take off. Here’s another quick video showing the graphical powers these chips have inside, I plan to be doing some PS3 quality gaming on my NVIDIA Kal-El tablet soon, that is for sure. NVIDIA plans to have these chips shipping before the Holiday season so we can expect to see them here shortly. [via Fudzilla] )
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| Seagate GoFlex Satellite HDD gets Android support with app Posted: 02 Aug 2011 08:23 AM PDT Seagate has officially announced that its cool Go Flex Satellite WiFi HDD will now support Android thanks to a new app. The little HDD is battery powered so you can take it with you wherever you go and use it. The storage drive will work with any Android device from smartphones to tablets. So far, the thing has only supported iOS devices so it’s nice to see Android getting some love.
The HDD has been accessible via the Android web browser in the past, but this is the first native app for the Android devices making the content streaming process even easier. You can load all your favorite movies and other digital content onto the 500GB HDD inside the case and then connect to it with WiFi or the new app and stream that video to your small screen. The new app supports Android devices with version 2.2 of the OS and up. The 500GB HDD retails for $200 and it will support multiple connections at the same time. You could stream video from the drive to your iPad and Android phone at the same time. [via SlashGear] )
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| The Economist app comes to Android Posted: 02 Aug 2011 06:50 AM PDT If you are a fan of reading on your Android device, you have one more popular magazine offering its content in a digital app to choose from. The Economist has announced that it now has its app available for Android devices. The Android app comes after the iOS app proved to be so popular with 2.4 million downloads according to the publication.
The Android app as a free downloads and includes free access to the editor’s selection of six articles for the week that are deemed must-reads. To get access to the full publication the user needs to subscribe to the digital or print version of the magazine. The digital version is on Zinio. The subscription to print or digital version gets the user access to The Economist on any app and the online version of the magazine as well. The user can also buy a single issue using the app for $5.99. The Android app supports all tablets and phones running Android 2.0 and higher. )
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| WIMM Labs 1.4″ Wearable Android Platform hands-on [Video] Posted: 02 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT Today I have a unique and exciting bit of information for you all. WIMM Labs today has just unveiled their newest innovation and it sure looks exciting to say the least. The WIMM Wearable Platform is a new 1.4″ display that will be powered by Android and tons of “micro apps” to take advantage of the thin, sleek, powerful and unique platform. This is wearable Android ladies and gentleman, and I want one as soon as possible.
This offers not only a small form factor and color touch-screen, but portable and wearable internet connected devices running with apps from their custom app store that will enable users a wide array of wearable technology. Just imagine being able to screen your calls, emails, social updates and messages without getting out your phone all from a wearable device that is right on your bag, or strapped to your wrist like a watch. The possibilities are almost endless once users and developers start taking advantage of this.
The idea isn’t new but you can use it as a watch, a digital wallet, a heart rate monitor while at the gym or a calorie counter while on the treadmill or mountain-bike, the list really can go on and on. These modules have tons of features and here is a small list:
Features: The 1.4″ display operates in dual-modes, either as a regular color screen like we all know or transflective backlight-free display so that it's still readable yet will conserve battery power. This is just the start here. The WIMM platform will come pre-loaded with all the core apps you’ll need as well as things like caller-ID, SMS notifications, weather updates, lost phone warnings, an entire library of custom watch user interfaces and covers, as well as things like a calender and more. This will all be controlled by the touch screen via taps, swipes and gestures. The SDK will be open and allow developers access and tools to build new and exciting “micro-apps” for the platform. OEM’s can then take this platform and build products for various area’s like medical uses, products for biking or working out, gym accessories and more.
This wearable platform will be licensed out to third-party companies and OEM’s from WIMM and they plan to have a standardized platform and size so devices, accessories and different 3rd party company products will all be interchangeable throughout the entire wearable platform. The key point here is the “micro apps” running on Android that will be available via the Micro App Store for these devices as this is where the platform and developers can really shine and build specific applications to suit their needs. With an app market populated with some apps already in place, and the SDK being available starting in Q3 things should really be able to pick up fast. That along with WIMM being partnered with Foxconn who has given them access to over 100 of its engineers, as well as various developmental resources. Foxconn should be able to deliver not just wearable displays, but this entire platform to the masses quickly and be production ready when the time comes.
We should see more soon and the WIMM One Developer Preview Kit and SDK will be available in Q3 2011. We will have to wait and see if this will pick up traction and really take off. Check out the photos and video below for more information on this awesome and unique look on technology. Now lets hope it gets thinner quickly and I can get one for my mountain bike soon.                           )
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| Layar Vision puts augmented reality over real world objects with no tags needed Posted: 02 Aug 2011 05:10 AM PDT Augmented reality is pretty cool, but the big downside is that generally it only works with real world items that have special codes or other tags. That means that the augmented reality will only work on the few tagged items the average user urns across. Blippar has an interesting new take on augmented reality using a new system called Layar Vision.
Layar is the largest augmented reality platform out there and Layar Vision will allow devs to make augmented reality content available without having to use tags. The Vision program is able to detect 50 items and combine them with location based layers. The user would be able to point their smartphone running Layar Vision at something like a newspaper or building and get augmented reality along with it. Apps for Android will be offered to support Layar Vision. Devs will get access to the beta version of the Layar Publishing Platform and a beta version of the browser in the coming weeks. The final consumer product will land in Q4 when the update is offered. Layar is holding a Creation Challenge to kick off Layar Vision and the firm is giving away $55,000 in total cash prizes. The ten devs with the best concepts for unique layars using Layar Vision will win $2,500 to $15,000 and the winners will be picked by an expert panel. Check out the video below to see how Layar Vision works. via Techcrunch] )
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| Unofficial Honeycomb OS available for Logitech Revue, assuming you are brave Posted: 02 Aug 2011 02:57 AM PDT
The hope is that the OS update will bring some new features with it and make the Revue interesting again to more users. If you can't wait for the official update to come, you can download and apply the update right now, but you might not like the risks. GTVHackers has Android 3.1 in beta form built for the Logitech Revue. The big catch is that the beta isn't ready for most people to give it a shot. You need to be one of the sorts that are familiar with beta builds ideally to take this upgrade on. Applying the beta to your Revue could ruin it since you might not be able to restore the original OS to the device. TechCrunch says that it installed the beta OS and not much has changed. Apparently, the media player supports more formats and Netflix no longer works. This seems like a beta you can easily do without unless you just can’t stop tweaking. [via TechCrunch] )
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| Samsung: Australian Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales will go ahead Posted: 02 Aug 2011 12:50 AM PDT Samsung has denied that the launch of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is on hold in Australia, clarifying that the company’s agreement with Apple only covers the US version of the tablet. According to Samsung’s official statement, given to AusDroid, the original Apple complaint covered “a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 variant that Samsung Electronics had no plans of selling in Australia.”
The Korean company says that, as indicated in reports yesterday, the settlement between it and Apple was “a mutual agreement” rather than a court injunction. That agreement only concerns the contentious US version of the slate, whereas the Australian variant is presumably different so as to avoid infringing Apple patents. Samsung, therefore, will push ahead with its Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch schedule, saying that the 10-inch model will be released soon. A hearing in Australia has been scheduled for August 29 to review the status of the localized suit.
[Thanks Dy4me!] )
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| Motorola Pax To Be a Dual-Core BlackBerry Killer! Posted: 01 Aug 2011 06:55 PM PDT Just hitting the wire is what our sources are calling the Motorola PAX. This will be a dual-core phone with a 3.5″ screen but also a dedicated hardware keyboard in a candy bar shape — no slider here. Basically this is an upgraded Motorola Droid Pro, or a Motorola XPRT we have seen it called as of late. To get an idea of the XPRT here is our full review.
This portrait QWERTY packing device will not only have a larger 3.5″ 480×800 display screen (original was 3.1 low res) but it will also pack a new dual-core processor but exact model is still unknown. This is headed to the carrier in Yellow but we don’t know if it will feature their 4G WiMax but we are hopeful.
Looking at the above image it looks to be a little thicker on the top end, but if this aims to be a true BlackBerry killer it needs to last more than an 8 hour day as RIM users are used to having great battery life. The Motorola XPRT (linked to above) we explain that it featured a 1820 mAh battery that lasted more than a day, so it’s fair to assume this will get the same treatment if not bigger. Basically Motorola has taken the amazing keyboard from a BlackBerry and put it on a phone with a dual-core CPU and access to the best mobile OS of all times — Android. Now what business minded soul wouldn’t want that? We don’t have much else regarding this device but we should be hearing more soon, maybe we will learn what that odd blue button does. [via thisismynext] )
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| Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Tablet Review Posted: 01 Aug 2011 05:39 PM PDT Today up for review I have the Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Tablet. This is Lenovo’s first venture into the Android world and so far they’ve made a great impression on this Android enthusiast. Great hardware with a few small tweaks to Android 3.1 Honeycomb that doesn’t distract from the experience and only enhances it. It’s safe to say so far I’m pretty pleased and have been using it all week.
We will get started with the hardware for you all. Make sure you watch the hands-on and unbox video to get a good look at the device. Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Tablet Hands-on & Unbox Video Hardware The Lenovo K1 Tablet features most of the specs we have seen thus far from Android tablets so it is nothing new. We have a dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU clocking at 1 Ghz, 1GB RAM, a 10.1″ 1280×800 LED Display as well as the usual ports. We do get HDMI-out and multiple internal storage options coming in at 16GB, 32GB, and even a 64GB flavor.
The left side features all the goods with a Micro SD slot, noise cancellation pinhole, the screen rotation lock/unlock switch, volume rocker, power button as well as the microphone. Around bottom things are a little bit simpler and we have the docking, syncing and charging port as well as the 3.5mm headphone jack and the micro HDMI-out. The right and top of the device are free of any ports or buttons so the design is pretty simple and elegant. Lenovo has been building great laptops for a long time so hardware isn’t an issue and the build quality is top notch. We do have a dedicated home button unlike most Honeycomb tablets but I actually like it because its right where your thumb always is and you don’t need to move a hand to hit the on screen home button. It also serves a double purpose and you can long press for native screenshots. I love this and I’m glad to finally see a tablet get it stock, makes reviewers like me plenty happy.
As far as hardware I also must mention the rear of the device. Not only do we have a 5MP camera with flash but it has a soft touch plastic-like texture covering the back that I just love. Its comfortable like a couch or car seat and really makes handling the device just that much easier. Going from the Lenovo to my Xoom I really missed the back coating and even though it adds a bit of thickness to the device it isn’t enough to notice a difference and really is a nice touch.
It is a plastic texture and it not only helps with your grip but makes setting the device down easier and it wont be sliding around on the table.
Software & Performance Now it came to market with Android 3.1 Honeycomb so if you’ve used a honeycomb tablet this is nothing new. Android 3.1 runs smooth and just as we all love. Multi-task scrolling is one of my favorite features of 3.1 too. The OS is just as you’d expect but with a few enhancements such as the custom launcher and slightly different icons for navigation.
The Lenovo launcher pictured above is fully customizable to exactly what you want. You can change the tile shortcuts and background color as well as transparency for the entire thing. It gives you instant one touch access to things like music, gallery, browser, calender and more. You can choose games or anything you’d like. Lenovo has also added another quick launch shortcut for some other popularly used apps that is all customizable by user preference as well. They have a rotating app launcher that you can use to quickly open things like Facebook, Twitter, Angry Birds, your favorite file manager and more for those that don’t want to hit home just to open the app tray and search for an app. This is one more small enhancement that is not intrusive and adds to the overall seamless experience.
Next up we will talk about performance. Other than a few small issues I’ve had with responsiveness while waking the device where sometimes it takes 2-3 seconds before I can slide to unlock everything else is blazing fast just as you’d expect from a dual-core NVIDIA tablet. We ran a few benchmarks as we love to do and the results were pretty impressive. Quadrant came in rocking and scored over 1900 in all of my three test runs, a pretty impressive score for such a large screen.
We also ran a new benchmark called Vellamo that tests overall browser performance. This can differ from device to device based on how well the internals all work together. From page rendering/scrolling, HTML5, JavaScipt, V8 network performance tests for loading web pages and more. I’ve ran this on multiple NVIDIA Tegra 2 tablets including the Xoom and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Lenovo actually beats them all. For having the same or extremely similar internals Lenovo must have done something right.
We also have the Lenovo App Shop that is easy access to Tablet specific apps thanks to Lenovo. It has a similar feel to it with scrolling and flipping through applications but the overall use was a bit confusing at first. I did however download some very fun games from the Lenovo App Shop that were worth the download that is for sure. They feature a deal of the day and have awesome useful apps like memory managers and more.
Camera It features a 5MP camera on the rear with LED flash. Some phones have been coming with 8 MP cameras and more but most tablets have only seen 5 MP. It is just as you’d expect, takes good pictured but nothing amazing. Here are a few samples for those interested in the camera.
Comparison Just for a little comparison I did pull out my Motorola Xoom. The Lenovo tablet is bigger than the Xoom but also lighter. With the soft touch back and the silver finish fingerprints are not an issue, something that drove me nuts with the Xoom. While the Lenovo is actually a tiny bit thinner than the Xoom the soft rubber mat on the rear of the device makes it seem fatter but in reality it’s not. Here is a quick comparison and more will be posted below.
Wrap-Up To wrap things up I’ll start by mentioning the battery life is amazing. I’ve not charged the device for over 2 days and I’ve used it a considerable amount, from browsing the web, playing games and doing plenty of benchmarks and I’m still around 35% battery. Obviously using it non-stop you might only get 8-10 hours of battery life but off and on throughout the day it should last for more than a few days. While I wish the device was a bit smaller around the bezel and also thinner like the Galaxy Tab, using it after using my Xoom for the past few months I completely love it. I think I’ll just keep using the Lenovo K1 tablet instead. The screen is brighter and has better contrast, its easier and more comfortable to hold as well as lighter. I think if you are in the market for an Android 3.1 Honeycomb tablet your best option would be the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Lenovo K1, or the Asus Transformer. For full device specs check out our new device.ac database or in the graph below. Feel free to click all the photos below for the full size preview. Thanks! Device Info
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Dimension & Weight
Battery & Power
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| Apple vs Samsung: Who Will Sell More? Posted: 01 Aug 2011 03:13 PM PDT The entire Android vs iOS and Google vs Apple argument has been around for a while, and with the recent lawsuits of Apple going after OEM’s like Samsung things are really starting to heat up. Samsung has been selling a lot of handsets and recent reports suggest they soon will top Apple in sales. What do you guys think?
We recently ran this post over on SlashGear and the amount of engagement from Google+ was just awesome. It’s interesting reading all the replies and comments and we love hearing what you all have to say. I know Google+ might have a few more Android and Google fans than other areas but the replies were still worth noting. Here is a quick picture of how things went. https://plus.google.com/103911183408644149411/posts/Gsf5eeX9yWy
Obviously Samsung is extremely popular and aren’t slowing down anytime soon. With the Galaxy S II headed to the U.S. market soon, and also the iPhone 4S or 5 (or whatever they call it) who do you think will be king? Will Android and Samsung’s highly powerful and popular phone push them over the top, or will the next iPhone give Apple that push they have been waiting for since launching the iPhone 4? Then you get immediate responses from people saying they dislike apple, or others calling people out as “fanboys” and the discussion usually slows down at that point. I felt like sparking it back up today with the recent reports that Samsung is barely behind Apple both in the U.S. and globally in terms of sales.
The discussion of everything being proprietary on the Apple side is a clear part of the discussion as +Giovanni Gopaulsingh tried to say but was quickly shut down. Does that play a role in your purchase decisions knowing that everything just works? Or do you want the latest and greatest and buy what is hot? We thought the responses were quite interesting and felt like sharing them with everyone, as well as saying thank you to who responded over on Google+ and actively participates in comments and sharing of news. So here is my question to end things. Will Apple and the iPhone 5 put them back in a solid lead for the rest of the next year? Or will popular more often and consistent released products like the Samsung Galaxy S II and future 3D phone releases continue Android and Samsung’s climb to the top? Who will Prevail? Apple or Samsung? )
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| Sony S1 and S2 Details Leak, Including Possible Announcement Date Posted: 01 Aug 2011 02:11 PM PDT Some new details just came to light regarding Sony’s pair of upcoming Android tablets. The pair of devices were shown off to a lucky few last month, but have not been officially announced yet (S1 and S2 are still code names). A source has spoken up revealing several new tidbits about the pair, including that Sony is expected to announce them officially just before the IFA trade show in Berlin, which takes place September 2-7.
Sony may be a bit late to the tablet game, but I have to applaud the uniqueness of their upcoming devices. The larger S1 features a 9.4″ screen (I’m so proud of them for trying out a different screen size) and an interesting physical design which early reports have said is ergonomically glorious. The smaller dual-screened S2 has a clam shell design similar to Nintendo’s DS gaming system. First off, both tablets will be available in 16 and 32 GB varieties, with the S1 being available with WiFi only, or 3G as well (the S2 will only be available with 3G + WiFi). The S1 will also feature a full-sized SD card reader (as opposed to the micro-SD cards in phones) to allow for oodles and oodles of storage space. The other details, all about the S1 include the integration of Sony’s TruBlack and Bravia display technologies, a dock and Bluetooth keyboard, and possible Playstation 3 integration. We’ll keep an ear to the ground as September 2nd draws closer. These tablets are starting to get exciting. I for one am looking forward to see how Sony’s take on the platform shakes things up, something the tablet space needs in my opinion. [via cnet] )
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| Samsung Galaxy S II Being Sold for less than $20 by Bell Canada [Update: It was a Glitch] Posted: 01 Aug 2011 01:33 PM PDT Well now I just feel like Canada’s making fun of me. The Samsung Galaxy S II may be a few months old to the rest of the world but its still the king of Android phones right now. The super slim Samsung phone was released on Bell Mobility in Canada just over a week ago, and now Bell is offering the king for just $19.95 Candian with a three year contract. Three years is a long time in the smartphone world, but considering Americans still have to shell out upwards of $600 to $700 to import a Galaxy S II, this contract may be worth it.
I’m not sure what more there is to say about this monster of a phone anymore. 4.3″ Super AMOLED+ screen, 1.2 GHz Exynos dual-core chip, thinner than an iPhone 4, the list of specs that will make you drool goes on and on. The phone is so tempting that some, like our own Vince Nguyen, couldn’t help but shell out the extra dough to get one of these bad boys imported. Our neighbors up north not only have access to subsidized prices, but a price so low you would think the phone was a year and a half old. With the low low price of $19.95 comes a 3 year contract though. For those of you unaware, Canadian carriers sell phones with either a 1, 2, 3 year, or no contract with a different price point for each option. Strangely enough, 2 and 1 year contracts will net you the phone for $549 and $579 each while buying the phone off contract from Bell costs just $449. Silliness aside, $19.95 is a great deal for the Galaxy S II if you can stomach the contract length. If you are just such a Canadian, then stop sitting there taunting me and go get it! UPDATE: Sorry guys looks like it really was too good to be true. It was a glitch, which Bell has since fixed. 3-year price is $169.95 Canadian. [via Bell] )
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| Samsung Device Creeps Through FCC, Is it the Galaxy 3D? Posted: 01 Aug 2011 12:45 PM PDT This weekend a new Samsung device, going by the code name SGH-I777 got FCC approval. The outline of the phone from the FCC filing bears a resemblance to a certain Galaxy S II we’re all waiting impatiently on, but the top of the device features a small button or switch which is clearly not present on the Galaxy S II. What could this mysterious button be? A camera button? A self-destruct switch? Or maybe a 3D toggle…
A Korean site claimed last week that a Samsung Galaxy 3D, featuring the same stereoscopic glasses-less 3D on the HTC EVO 3D and LG Optimus 3D. Wireless Goodness is now speculating that the recently FCC-approved Samsung SGH-i777 could be that very phone. Their logic is that the small protrusion visible in the FCC image above is a 3D toggle switch, like the one on the HTC EVO 3D as seen below.
Let’s take a break from the speculation and review what little we know, thanks to the FCC filing. The phone will feature WiFi, Bluetooth, and an 8 MP camera. Its battery will be 1500 mAh, which as Wireless Goodness points out, is less than the 1650 mAh battery in the Galaxy S II. Given the fact that we’ll be seeing at least 3 different variants of the Galaxy S II, if not more, here in the U.S. the battery size may mean nothing, but there’s no denying that little button is new. There isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room with what buttons and switches are included on android devices these days. This button appears to be too small, and too high on the edge of the device to be the power button. While its possible the switch is a noise switch, a la a certain fruitier smartphone, I for one would hope Samsung wouldn’t be so blatant to copy a feature like that given its current legal situation with Apple. So will it be a 3D Galaxy S II? Only time will tell for sure. I just got a 3DS recently and while glassesless 3D is really cool, and fun for games I’m not sure I would want it on my smartphone. Let us know in the comments what you think, is 3D here to stay, or is it a bit gimmicky for your tastes? [via Wireless Goodness] )
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| Verizon Wireless Offering $50 Off a Tablet when you buy a Phone Posted: 01 Aug 2011 12:44 PM PDT Sadly we recently learned that the Droid Bionic was delayed yet again and now it appears Verizon is going to start offering a few promotions to make users happy while they wait, but only if they buy a smartphone so that basically counts the Bionic crowd out of this one.
A new promotion has just kicked off and Verizon will be offering $50 dollars off of a tablet purchase when users buy a new smartphone (and 2 year plan). This deal is only for 3G/4G tablets that are “connected” so Wi-Fi models aren’t a part of the deal. Starting today it will go through the end of August, so users that have been considering a new Android tablet and phone both could save a few bucks if they go this route. This promotion is available for all new customers as well as current customers, they are even allowing employee’s to join in on the savings. Personally I’d be waiting for the Galaxy S II to hit Verizon and I’d snag it and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 4G LTE at the same time, that is one awesome duo. We don’t know if the $50 off is only for an on-contract tablet as well, or if you can use it and just buy the “connected” tab outright. A discount is a discount though right? [via SlashGear] )
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| Motorola Droid Pro Heads to Cellular South as the Milestone Plus Posted: 01 Aug 2011 12:24 PM PDT The Motorola Droid Pro is a BlackBerry-ish device running on that tasty frozen Android 2.2 FroYo and we reviewed it here. Apparently Cellular South loves the business Android user idea and will be getting the Motorola Droid Pro soon and they’ll be calling it the Motorola Milestone Plus.
More recently they also released this same device and named it the Motorola XPRT so feel free to check out that review if you’re interested. Basically you get the best OS ever (Android of course) along with a keyboard any BlackBerry user would enjoy using and access to all the android applications one would ever want — its a win win. The Milestone Plus also packs plenty of power along with that keyboard. It has a 1 Ghz CPU, a 3.1″ screen and will have you working, typing emails and playing Angry Birds in no time flat. The Milestone Plus is available on Cellular South starting today for just $199 with a new contract so if you’re in that area and would like a new toy feel free to head over and snag one. It runs Android 2.2 but eventually it should see 2.3 Gingerbread although no details on that have been given. )
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| Posted: 01 Aug 2011 12:21 PM PDT It’s that time again, time to look at LG’s vision of a 3D media collecting and sharing world through what we saw before as the LG Optimus 3D and are now seeing as the LG THRILL 4G. This device is essentially the same piece of hardware with different bits inside and connectivity along AT&T’s bands specifically – more like branded to AT&T specifically and released on their network. Will this 3D piece of machinery change the way we see personal photo and video sharing? Will its dual-core Texas Instruments processor and its ability to break the 3rd wall into our vision convince the masses to take the LG/AT&T combo plunge? These are some waters you’re going to want to take a swim in. Check out how this bit of hardware is working.
Before we begin, let’s have a look at our hands-on and unboxing video with this device. We got the chance to play around with this device a few months ago, now this new look at the LG 3D world has come in a fancy new AT&T box. Have an opening up party with us here: HardwareIn the LG THRILL 4G, we’re once again looking at LG’s 3D experience, what’s called the LG Optimus 3D off of a carrier is here called the THRILL for AT&T. You’ll be working with a 1GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4 dual-core processor, a lovely 4.3-inch glasses-free 3D enabled display, two 5-megapixel cameras on the back capable of recording 3D content, and what they call “Tri-Dual” architecture. This name lets you know that the device has a dual-core processor, dual-memory, and dual-channel. Real dual-channel RAM makes both your 3D and your non-3D experience zippy as possible, this device running right alongside the rest of the dual-core pack of devices coming out over the past few months with ease.
You’ve got a power/lock button on top aside a headphone jack and one of two noise-cancelling mics (that tiny hole there, see it?) On the right you’ve got your volume up/down and a 3D button that’ll lead you to a screen containing shortcuts to all of your 3D-capable content. Find out all about 3D in the special “3D Abilities” section of this review below. At the bottom of this device you’ll find the second mic as well as a dip for you to be able to pull up your batter cover, and on the left you’ll find two covered ports: one for microHDMI, the other for microUSB. Not only do you get HDMI out with this device – and take note, the HTC EVO 3D, this device’s biggest competitor, does not, but you get the cord in the box as well – and it’s several feet long – more than long enough to use the device as a controller with some 3D games busting out of your 3D television.
The device features a cool soft plastic battery cover with the signature silver metal strip that LG has also placed on their LG G-Slate tablet as well as the LG G2x, it becoming LG’s calling card for high-quality heavy metal innards. Under the cover you’ll find easily accessible SIM card, battery, and microSD, the microSD slot containing an 8GB card out of the box. The whole handset isn’t the thinnest device on the market, but certainly isn’t heavy considering the amount of hardware that’s packed inside. SoftwareInside the device you’ll find a quite light look at LG’s user interface, looking very much like recent LG devices we’ve seen running FroYo. LG is one of the groups that thankfully doesn’t do just a whole lot to what Android has provided, this leading the way to quicker updates to Android versions in the future, or so we hope. The apps drawer is separated into three sections unique to this device: 3D Applications, Applications (out of the box), and Downloads. This is an excellent way to separate apps, in my opinion, and certainly helpful for a reviewer to keep clear what’s been downloaded and what came with the device when it was brand new.
You’ll be getting a “Lite” version of qik for video chat, Amazon Kindle for all your ebooks, AT&T Code Scanner for all the times you’ll be running around scooping up QR-Codes, Facebook, AT&T Navigator for GPS mapping, Twitter, Polaris Office for your documents, Richnote for creating text notes with photos attached, and everyones favorite: YouTube. Your 3D section has a special 3D gallery (in 3D, not just displaying 3D photos and video,) a shortcut to a 3D Games and Apps screen that, again, displays these in 3D if your regular apps drawer isn’t good enough for you, a 3D guide for if you get lost, another special edition drawer, this one for 3D Movies, a shortcut to your camera with the 3D switch switched on, then a few games including Asphalt 6, Lets Golf 2, and Nova. There’s also a shortcut to a website that’ll provide you with purchase links for 3D enabled games, this being through Gameloft, the provider of the other games you get in your drawer instantly. Finally there’s Gulliver’s Travels, an interactive picture pop-up book that works awesomely with 3D effects.
PerformanceThis device performs almost exactly the same as the LG Optimus 3D, which tells us that AT&T was kind enough not to change the software to a degree that would degrade your experience basically at all. Have a look below at some benchmark scores, and note especially the I/O and 3D score in Quadrant Advanced, this being a direct result of the awesome tri-dual technology bumping up the jams.
3D AbilitiesAs you may already be aware, this is the second time LG has taken a look at 3D and the first time it’s worked with a glasses-free panel. In the T-Mobile G-Slate, LG showed us what it was to record with two cameras at once, there requiring the regular red and blue glasses to see how it all turned out. That experience was enjoyable, and certainly was unique at the time, but felt a bit like a bonus where the tablet would have been decent on its own without said double camera setup. Here we’ve got the whole 3D situation ready to go on the device itself without the need for glasses at all. The 3D images appear instead now to fall down inside the device rather than popping up out at the viewer. It’s beyond strange to see such a vision without the glasses necessary in the past, and enjoyable if you’ve got a strong stomach. If you’ve got a propensity to puke in eye-confusing conditions, I suggest you head to your local AT&T store to check this device out before you purchase it (when it comes out, that is.)
Many will find, on the other hand, that this device brings a gaming and media viewing experience they quite enjoy. Seeing things from more than one direction is a skill only us with two eyes have been able to enjoy with objects we’ve had within our natural visual range. Now we’re able to take another step forward into the ability to see things from two directions whenever and from wherever we wish – or from wherever our friend with an LG THRILL is standing.
Like the LG Optimus 3D, we’ve got a dedicated physical 3D button, one that takes us to a screen where all of our 3D options are listed. While this is a neat feature, I’d much rather see a physical camera button here instead. Your stock LG separation of apps in the apps drawer into 3D apps, built-in apps that are non-3D, and downloaded apps should be enough, this also being a single tap away. Instead the location on the device that’s most natural for a person to tap to take a photo brings them to a screen of 3D shortcuts. Once you’re IN that screen, you’ll be treated to a lovely screen of transforming icons that show you what you’re capable of accessing in this 3D world. Again, whether or not you choose to use this screen is up to you – it’s not necessary.
The actual 3D effect is adjustable in most apps. Whilst playing the most awesome car racing game on mobile today, that being Asphalt 6, you’ll want to keep the 3D on full, as racing in a 3D environment with only your need to turn left or right makes for a fun experience. While playing Nova, on the other hand, you’ll likely end up turning the 3D down (that making the space between objects less) or completely off as there are quite a few different movements you’ll need to be making on several planes, this making it quite difficult for your eyes to figure out what to focus on – dizziness ensues. There is a 3D book included in this device’s out of box guts as well: Gulliver’s Travels. With this book you’ll be able to travel with the large and small fellow in a sort of pop-up book with animations upon pressing. This is a fantastic use of the 3D effect and will be a good time for all. Have a look at our hands-on with 3D with this piece of hardware from our original review of what was then called the LG Optimus 3D – again, the same device as far as the 3D implementation goes, almost 100% the same device as far as its non-3D experience goes. Battery and CameraShould you be using your 3D effect on the regular, you’ll see a quick degradation of battery life. Like any high-effects sort of feature, the 3D is not especially kind to your power supply. On the other hand, when I’ve had the device sitting around without the 3D working, the life of the battery is generally average, needing only a single charge for nearly a full day’s work.
The camera is one of the two main places you’ll find yourself thinking about using the 3D effect. The other being games, here we’ve got your ability to collect and share the 3D effect in both photo and video, this being activated with a sort of switch on your screen. When the 3D effect is on, you’ll be seeing instant results, seeing essentially exactly what you’ll end up seeing when the photo or video is taken. It’s a wild experience seeing the world “in 3D,” if you know what I mean. Don’t stare through this lens too long lest you get addicted to its alternate dimensional ways.
Below you’ll find examples of both 2D and 3D media. For the photo example here we’ve simply taken a picture with the camera’s highest definition settings on 2D, while the 3D video we were able to present with YouTube’s 3D capabilities – you’ll need 3D glasses here, however, as more than likely your desktop or mobile browser won’t be able to see the magic like the THRILL itself can.
Wrap-UpWhat we’ve got here is a top-tier Android device with 3D capabilities and a lovely Texas Instruments OMAP4 dual-core processor under the hood. Without the 3D abilities, this device is running on AT&T’s 4G network with one of the most powerful mobile processors on the market, therefor it’s a winner. With the 3D capabilities, this device is just full of surprises. Will it be worth the $199 you’ll be paying for it the day it launches? Certainly – but again, I suggest you head down to your local mobile outlet and look at how the 3D effect works with your eyes before dropping down some internet cash.
The device feels nice to hold, is certainly one of LG’s nicest devices to date, and is now in direct competition with HTC’s EVO 3D. Which one wins, you might ask? It really, truly depends on which brand camp you find yourself associating with more PLUS which carrier you trust the most. You have a rather difficult decision ahead of you!                          )
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The Logitech Revue Android set-top box has been around for a long time now. Recently the 
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