Android Community

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• AT&T claims you can keep your T-Mobile plan and rate after merger
• Spotify Premium Members reach 2 Million Mark
• HTC Hero S coming to U.S. Cellular
• Adobe Flash Player 11 and AIR 3 Announced, Promises stable Flash, 3D and more
• Kindle ebooks on loan now at 11,000 libraries
• Samsung SHV-E120L uncovered: 4.7″ HD Display and LTE
• LG Optimus EX dual-core phone leaked
• TankBot Android-controlled micro-vehicle revealed [Video]
• Samsung Galaxy S II coming in October for under $200 to AT&T
• Verizon Wireless unveils the LG Enlighten smartphone
• Samsung’s Galaxy Note due November claims retailer
• Zynga launches free Hanging With Friends Game for Android
• HTC outs Raider 4G with LTE and 1.5GHz dual-core
• Sphero Android-Controlled Robotic Balls Hands-on with CEO Paul Berberian [Video]
• Samsung Epic 4G Touch root method released
• Google Wallet to support Visa, American Express, and Discover
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Plus with T-Mobile spotted
• Huawei MediaPad Android 3.2 tablet hits the streets this October
• Xiaomi Phone to receive stock Android 2.3.5 soon, Ice Cream Sandwich in January
• AT&T ACER Iconia Tab A501 4G Review [Video]

AT&T claims you can keep your T-Mobile plan and rate after merger Posted: 21 Sep 2011 11:32 AM PDT If you are one of the many users over on T-Mobile that have been wondering what will happen during and after this AT&T-Mobile merger goes though (if it does), AT&T and T-Mobile have outlined a few more details to put users at ease. AT&T is now saying users will be able to keep their current rate and plan after the merger goes through, even after your contract expires from T-Mobile. This is great news for many of the long time T-Mo customers with amazing grandfathered-in plans like myself. AT&T may be eating T-Mobile like the image above, but it appears they wont be eating all the rates and plans — at first at least. According to the documents shown below it appears they will be grandfathering most customers plans for when the merger to AT&T starts. We knew they’d be allowing the plans to continue for the most part but to now know even after plans expire users will be able to continue with the same rate and plan should make many feel more comfortable with the idea of switching to the AT&T world. Just as TmoNews states we were wondering the same thing regarding the future. What will happen when users want to upgrade their phone, and what about making small changes to a plan? Will this require you to lose what you’ve been using and sign into a new deal completely different than what you had before. These details I’m sure will continue to be explained and detailed as things move forward but with a merger this big there is bound to be some bumps along the way. For now we’ll just have to wait and see what the DOJ has to say about the deal. [via TmoNews] )

Spotify Premium Members reach 2 Million Mark Posted: 21 Sep 2011 11:09 AM PDT If there was any doubt that Spotify would continue its crushing blow to the top of the streaming music world, today might well be the last time such a doubt was spoken. What we’ve learned, straight from the source of course, is that the Premium service that’s available with Spotify streaming music service has now reached and broken the 2 million person mark. This means that over 2 million people are now paying to have the full Spotify service on their phones and in their homes – is this fantastic for a group that started out only across the pond back in 2009? Before we go any further, if you don’t know what Spotify is, you should check out the full guide on Spotify your humble narrator wrote for SlashGear back when it was first released here in the states. After that, you should check out our review of the Spotify Premium app that you’ll only be able to run if you’ve got the Premium service hooked up. Right after the USA launch we also gave a whole handful of invites away as well as reviewing that app, that’s how super pumped we were. And that’s only the USA launch, not even a few months ago! Back on the 28th of May, 2009, our man in England mister Chris Davies made a video demo of the Spotify Android app as it existed in its first state. It was already pretty super neato back then. Now the combined collection of premium users all over the world is at 2 million. Are you one of them? )

HTC Hero S coming to U.S. Cellular Posted: 21 Sep 2011 11:05 AM PDT A new image has surfaced thanks to U.S. Cellular showing us a glimpse of the HTC Hero S. Last week we mentioned US Cellular would receive the Motorola Electrify and now it is being pictured with the HTC Hero S, confirming it’s headed to the market soon. Originally known and leaked as the HTC Kingdom, we now know this will most likely hit carriers any time now. We first saw the HTC Kingdom way back in April and many were unsure as what to think or expect of the leaked photos, then in August a few more details were revealed showing that it was headed to the Now Network with 4G WiMAX. Originally thought to offer a 4.0″ display the image above shows it neatly next to the 4.3″ touting Motorola Electrify (aka Photon 4G). Full specs and details were later revealed and they include a 1.2 Ghz Qualcomm Snapragon single-core processor, 768MB RAM, Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread and a 4.0″ qHD Display. Now we know this will have a 4.3″ 960 x 540 qHD screen as well as a 5 MP camera and VGA front for video chat. Originally thought to be called the EVO 4G Design, it will be known as the HTC Hero S on U.S. Cellular and probably keep the EVO tag for the WiMAX carrier in yellow. We are digging around for more confirmation but the leaked photo tells us plenty and most likely we’ll be seeing this land sometime here shortly in the next month or two. [via PocketNow] )

Adobe Flash Player 11 and AIR 3 Announced, Promises stable Flash, 3D and more Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:46 AM PDT Today on the official Adobe Blog Adobe has outlined plenty of what we will see in the future. With Flash Player 11, AIR 3, 3D and console quality gaming and more all across multiple platforms and especially mobile, all thanks to Flash 11 and AIR 3. According to Adobe these updates will bring the "next generation of immersive apps across platforms including Android, iOS (via AIR), BlackBerry Tablet OS, Mac OS, Windows, connected TVs and other platforms." Adobe has outlined some pretty impressive details today, setting the bar high for themselves and I can’t wait to see this all develop over the next few months. They’ve stated we should see updates for Flash Player and AIR both starting in October. According to Adobe Flash 11 and AIR 3 is and will be the next-generation console, all built around the web and accessed from all the devices outlined above. With something new they are calling Stage 3 (codenamed Molehill) we can expect flash performance and 3D graphics with up to 1000 times faster rendering that is buttery smooth all available via the web for mobile device access. They’ve included a few demo videos and here is one of the neat ones. Using Flash Player 11 and AIR 3 provide a cross platform environment that will deliver both gaming and video content to a very wide audience using the single platform. That and developers will be able to use both Flash and HTML5 together to perfect and improve experiences on devices. This is all said to become available during the month of October, and hitting multiple platforms, devices and the web for daily use as the months continue. When Flash was first announced for Android the wave of comments both negative and positive were large, I’m interested to see if this will truly bring a next level type of performance to the world of Android. with dual and quad-cores making the rounds Flash should be extremely powerful and smooth for day to day mobile use. Head over to the Adobe Blog for in-depth details and more video. )

Kindle ebooks on loan now at 11,000 libraries Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:37 AM PDT This week the Android-powered Kindle eReader gets a massive bump as Amazon’s library ebook lending scheme is initiated at over 11,000 libraries across the United States. Through this program, libraries will be offering ebooks for checkout for periods of time similar to what a normal book checkout would be. This will more than likely also boost physical library attendance as folks with the Kindle hardware will be encouraged to actually visit the locations to pick up the ebooks. This program is also working starting today on Android apps for devices of all types. Users will need to get themselves a brand new library card, (or they can use the one they’ve already got, if they’ve got one,) and each library will be responsible for handling their own loans. Delivery will take place via Whispernet, Amazon’s wireless system, this system only working over a Wi-fi connection, not 3G. Users may also initiate book checking out via USB connection. Should users choose to purchase books during or after their check-out period, notes and bookmarks added to borrowed copies will be transferred to the purchased copies automatically. This entire system uses OverDrive for its DRM and lending, and each loan period will depend entirely on what individual libraries have deemed appropriate. While current OverDrive implementations range from 7-21 days, loan periods could have any number of instances in the future through this program. And don’t worry about forgetting to return your books on time – a three days left notification will pop up on your Kindle whenever the time is near. Late fees! Never again! )

Samsung SHV-E120L uncovered: 4.7″ HD Display and LTE Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:05 AM PDT A new Samsung handset has surfaced that is showing some mighty impressive specs that have more than received my attention. Details are scant regarding this handset but we do have a pretty full hardware specs sheet that should make more than a few of you excited to see this phone in the flesh. Between hearing LTE and the HD display I want it already, see below for the full details. We are hearing some of these details came from a NenaMark result seen a few months back but the photo above reveals the rest of the specs. This sounds impressive to say the least. We have an unknown Samsung smartphone powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread that is rocking a 1.5 Ghz dual-core Qualcomm processor, 1GB of ram and 16GB internal storage. Then here’s the fun part, we have a 4.7″ 1280 x 720p AMOLED HD Display (like the Galaxy Note), 4G LTE, and the powerful 8 MP camera on the rear and 2 MP up front that we are accustomed to from the Galaxy S II smartphone. With a huge 1850 mAh battery and the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread this sounds like a beast. My first thought is whether 4.7″ is too large for most, although the Galaxy Note linked to above received plenty of praise when it was announced so maybe 4.7″ is just another large screened awesome smartphone many will want. I know the image above doesn’t tell much, or give us any idea where these details came from but for now you can peg me as excited. [via Blog of Mobile] )

LG Optimus EX dual-core phone leaked Posted: 21 Sep 2011 09:45 AM PDT A new Android 2.3 Gingerbread phone from the teams at LG has been leaked along with a press photo and some impressive hardware specs. This is the Optimus EX (aka LG-SU880) and for now we are just starting to receive information on this handset. First off hitting markets in Korea, we can hopefully expect to see it land on others soon. The LG Optimus EX will sport a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor though we are still unsure on make and model but most likely a Qualcomm, 1GB of RAM, a 5MP camera around the rear as well as a front camera for video chat. Packing a 4.0″ WVGA display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and all those other usual sensors this appears to be a nice, well rounded phone from LG. We’ve yet to see this type of design from LG and from looking at the image above it almost appears as if the speaker grills are on the front of the device, unless that is just the snazzy design. It’s said to be sleek and sexy being only just 9.5mm thick. We haven’t heard anything regarding pricing or availability outside the US, or if it will pack 4G LTE like its recently leaked LTE brother. We will update when we hear more details on this mystery phone. [via PocketNow] )

TankBot Android-controlled micro-vehicle revealed [Video] Posted: 21 Sep 2011 08:53 AM PDT While the most recent Android smartphone-controlled device that’s anywhere near a car has been the Sphero, a device much more along the lines of an RC-object, the fine folks at Desk Pets have taken an alternate approach: make the tiniest tank in the world, make it in several colors, make it smartphone controllable, and price it cheap! That’s what we like to hear for the next generation of new smartphone adopters, those thinking they need a high-priced smartphone to run anything awesome. I say thee nay! The future is here! Tiny little RC cars that are inexpensive and can be run with any Android you’ve got! The shape of the TankBot is much closer to a vehicle you’d see in a concept auto show than it is to a traditional army tank, but it does have the tracks it needs to get over some slight adverse terrain. That said, it’s certainly not the most versatile or the fastest vehicle on Earth, that’s for certain. You can pick up green, blue, orange, or dark gray, they’re mostly made of plastic. You’ve only to charge them up via USB for 40 minutes and you’ll get a full 15 minutes of sweet remote action. Not enough for you? Maybe if I add the fact that it’s got headlights that flash when the toy is idle? How about this: the entire little rig will cost you only $24.99 – almost certainly the least expensive smartphone controlled RC car on the market. These little guys will be hitting your local Toys R’ Us and Radio Shack immediately if not soon. Also there’s a couple of videos to tantalize your senses here, one of them showing how you can let the little guy loose in a maze and have it navigate automatically without any controls from you, the other showing one of the cars racing a Porsche Carrera S – a $100,000 car made for speed! Guess who wins! )

Samsung Galaxy S II coming in October for under $200 to AT&T Posted: 21 Sep 2011 08:37 AM PDT If you have been waiting for the Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone to land at AT&T there are only a couple weeks left to wait. AT&T has gone official with the launch date and the price of the S II smartphone. It will land on October 2 and the official price will be $199.99. Naturally, that price will require you to get a new contract. The smartphone is a very nice Android device and is one of the best on the market right now. For the $200 you get a big 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and a very thin phone at 8.89mm. The front camera is a 2MP unit and an 8MP rear camera. It will support 1080p video recording and WiFi calling as well. You can also get the optional HDMI adapter for the phone and a USB host kit to connect things like keyboards, cams, printers, and more. We really liked the smartphone in our hands on at the end of last month and this will be a great smartphone alternative to the iPhone on AT&T. )

Verizon Wireless unveils the LG Enlighten smartphone Posted: 21 Sep 2011 06:43 AM PDT Verizon Wireless is getting a new smartphone that runs Android 2.3 called the LG Enlighten. The smartphone will hit Verizon online on September 22 and it will be in stores on September 29. The Enlighten is a smartphone aimed at messaging, email, and apps in one package. The smartphone has some decent features that entry-level shoppers looking for a low price Android device might appreciate. The screen is a 3.2-inch unit with a resolution of 320 x 240. The processor is an 800MHz unit and it has a QWERTY slide out keyboard. It supports Flash, hotspot connectivity, and has customizable home screens. The rear camera is a 3.2MP unit with autofocus and camcorder. The smartphone naturally supports the Android Market for apps. Rounding out the features are Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, support for Exchange, and a 2GB microSD card is included. The Enlighten will be offered for $79.99 after a $50 MIR and a new 2-year agreement. Voice and data plans will start at $39.99 and another $30 monthly for data. The hotspot feature will cost you another $20 monthly. )

Samsung’s Galaxy Note due November claims retailer Posted: 21 Sep 2011 06:32 AM PDT Samsung’s Galaxy Note smartphone-tablet-hybrid has been pencilled in for a late November release, for the UK at least. According to retailer Clove, the first Galaxy Note stock will come in midway through Q4, with retail price as-yet unconfirmed but expected to be in the region of £500+VAT ($783). That gets you a 5.3-inch 1280 x 800 capacitive touchscreen that recognizes not just finger control but Samsung’s bundled digital stylus. Handwriting recognition is supported, along with the ability to annotate screengrabs, notes and other content. Elsewhere it’s everything you’d expect from a high-end Android smartphone, so there’s an 8-megapixel Full HD video capable camera on the back, a front-facing camera, 3G, WiFi b/g/n and all the usual sensors. A dual-core 1.5GHz processor is inside, keeping things running. More information in our hands-on from the Galaxy Note’s debut at IFA 2011 earlier in the month. [via SlashGear] )

Zynga launches free Hanging With Friends Game for Android Posted: 21 Sep 2011 05:51 AM PDT Zynga makes some of the best game apps out there and the company has announced a new free offering that you can get on the Android Market right now called Hanging With Friends. The app is a social game twist on the traditional Hangman game that we have all played at one point. The game play has friends taking turns to create and guess words to stump other players. The app allows the player to choose an avatar and then join in the game to see who can hang on longest. Rather than a noose, the game has the avatars with balloons in their hands. To survive to the next round the player has to guess properly and avoid losing all their balloons. There are also strategic lifelines to help and other crucial hints in the game. There are also instant replays that let players study how the others play. The game is cross platform allowing Android users to play with iOS users. They can find other players using their existing With Friends account and use Facebook. [via Zynga] )

HTC outs Raider 4G with LTE and 1.5GHz dual-core Posted: 21 Sep 2011 04:08 AM PDT HTC has launched a new LTE smartphone, the HTC Raider 4G, though so far the Android handset is only announced for South Korea. Pairing the 1.5GHz dual-core processor from the Sensation XE with a 4.5-inch qHD IPS display, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, the Raider 4G offers up to 100Mbps downloads and 50Mbps uploads on LTE networks. If you’re out of LTE coverage, then the Raider 4G is also good for up to 21Mbps 3G downloads or 5.76Mbps uploads. There’s also WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, and all the usual sensors you’d expect, along with an 8-megapixel rear f/2.2 camera with dual-LED flash and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera. Full HD video recording is supported. OS is Android Gingerbread with HTC Sense on top. HTC will also offer the Raider 4G with an optional DMB dongle, allowing owners to tune into digital TV broadcasts when in South Korea. The whole thing measures 128.8mm x 67mm x 11.27mm and weighs 163.8g with its 1620 mAh battery. No word on pricing or availability internationally at this stage, though AT&T is tipped to get the Raider 4G at some point. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] )

Sphero Android-Controlled Robotic Balls Hands-on with CEO Paul Berberian [Video] Posted: 20 Sep 2011 09:16 PM PDT It’s time for some robots, ladies and gentlemen, of the spherical kind – this is Sphero, made by Orbotix, and we’ve got a first-hand look at how far this awesome project is along and how close it is to production courtesy of Paul Berberian. Now for those of you that don’t recognize that epic name, Berberian is the CEO of the group, Orbotix, who manufacture the Sphero ball. Just this past week we were in NYC for the 2011 Pepcom Holiday Spectacular and Orbotix were up and running with Spheros galore – so close to the sales floor we can taste it! The first time either we or our sister-site SlashGear heard of the Sphero robot ball it was back at CES 2011 where the whole project was still pretty far from ready to go. Now we’ve gotten a lot closer to our goal of having one of these magical spheres in our hands, and wouldn’t you know it, our production-quality demonstration comes at the hands of no less than the CEO of the group that creates them! This constitutes the world’s first smartphone-controlled ball’s first final prototype design debut, as now that we’ve also hear word of a developer program for the ball back at Google I/O 2011, we’re just about to have a full Albuquerque Freak-Out over the approaching days. For those of you not already developing radical new applications for this device to work with, head to http://developer.orbotix.com/ and grab all the full API and Mobile SDK codes your heart can handle, then get to work! What Berberian shows us is a couple of apps that’ll be working on iOS specifically, but we can expect them to be popping up on Android before the release date as well – and what’s that release date, you might ask? There IS no specific release date still at this point, but you can bet that the first wave will be coming out inside 2011. You can pre-order your Sphero straight from Orbotix for a grand total of $129.99 over at http://www.gosphero.com/ where you can also wait to see all the lovely apps that go along with it. Also note – the Orbitix team is looking for talented Android developers to join their team right now, and it could be you! You can hit up the GoSphero webpage there and they’ll start taking credit card orders in November (2011), at which point they’ll rack em up and start shipping in December (also 2011), and this is all on a first-come, first-serve basis. That’s just for the first run, mind you, there’ll also be a wider 2012 release starting out at GoSphero and Amazon online with in-store retail locations to be announced later down the line. Yes please, rolling balls of fury indeed. Also feel free to take a look at the rest of the devices we got our hands on at the event this past week over at SlashGear (since there weren’t too many Android-specific items) by hitting their big [Pepcom Holiday Spectacular 2011 portal] and get gadgety! )

Samsung Epic 4G Touch root method released Posted: 20 Sep 2011 08:00 PM PDT The Epic 4G Touch was released just last Friday and already the lovely people over at XDA Developers have already developed a root method for the device.  While most of you may be unsure of putting your brand new, beautiful Epic 4G Touch’s under the knife, these developers have unlocked the phone to allowing you full access to the device’s potential. The step-by-step directions as well as the rooted kernel can be found on the XDA Developer’s thread here. Overall, the process is relatively simple, and involves putting the device into download mode, and running Odin3 to flash the rooted kernel to the phone. However, the root is regarded as “experimental” so attempt it at your own risk.  It’s also not mac-compatible at the moment so unless you have a Windows computer running Odin3 and Kies, you’ll have to wait for a ported release. An instructional video demonstrating the root method is below. Though there is a risk to rooting your device, rooting will allow you to load your own custom ROMs as they become available in the future. For the average consumer however, rooting your device may also potentially void your warranty or prevent you from receiving official support down the line. If you’re considering purchasing your own Epic 4G Touch to root, be sure to check out our review of device here. [via Epic 4G Touch Root] )

Google Wallet to support Visa, American Express, and Discover Posted: 20 Sep 2011 07:28 PM PDT When Google launched Google Wallet two days ago, there were concerns on how Google had chosen to launch the NFC-based system. Today’s announcement has expanded the horizon for the service. While we already heard about a few of the supported payment methods, today new details have confirmed VISA will also be added to the list. With the current state of the release, only Now Network customers using a Nexus S 4G had access to Google Wallet. At that, only Citi and Mastercard users could link their credit cards to the service. Google’s announcement that it has gained the support of Visa, American Express, and Discover shows that the major credit card companies are finally willing to back the service. Though Google Wallet doesn’t currently support these credit cards, Google has announced that they are working hard to bring these other backers up to the service as a part of their “commitment to an open commerce ecosystem.” In doing so, they are widening the potential audience for the application. Hopefully Google Wallet will receive greater adoption through the release of more NFC-enabled devices in the months to come. [via Google] )

Samsung Galaxy Tab Plus with T-Mobile spotted Posted: 20 Sep 2011 06:48 PM PDT Today new images were released of the next generation Samsung Galaxy Tab headed for T-mobile. Though the pictures reveal little of the software on the device, they clearly show a profile of the tablet hardware. Looking a bit different than tablets released from Samsung thus far I must say I’m excited to see more. The successor to the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 7″ has just been spotted in the wild. It will run on T-Mobile’s 4g network, with Android 3.2 and a version of Samsung’s Touchwiz interface that was described the source as “phenomenal” and “simple and fun.” Whether or not this device is in line with the Galaxy Tab 7.7 that was recently shown in Berlin is unknown at this point. This may also be the same Samsung tablet that had been rumored to replace the sold out Galaxy Tab on T-Mobile. That device was found to have a Super-AMOLED Plus screen with a 1024×600 resolution and a Cortex-A9 processor. Pricing and availability of the tablet are unknown and we have yet to hear an official release from Samsung themselves. [via TmoNews] )

Huawei MediaPad Android 3.2 tablet hits the streets this October Posted: 20 Sep 2011 03:14 PM PDT Who remembers the Huawei MediaPad from that neat little video back in June? If you’ve been wondering when you can enjoy this 7″ Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet wrapped in that nice aluminum shell we now have a firm date. Coming this October over in Malaysia, and the rest of the world and US later this fall. The MediaPad was announced back in mid June and brings with it some pretty impressive specs, even if the design sadly looks like an enlarged iPhone 4. Inside there's Qualcomm's 1.2GHz dual-core processor – presumably the same chip as inside the HTC Sensation, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for those in need of more. Coming in at just 11mm thick it’s no Galaxy Tab, but its thinner than many tablets currently available. Pair all of that with HSPA+ connectivity, WiFi, a capacitive touch beautiful IPS display and HDMI Full HD 1080p output you have a pretty nice little contender here in the world of Honeycomb tablets. Available now in Malaysia and it will be coming to the U.S. and other markets shortly. It appears it’ll be a bit later than the promised Q3 2011 date they gave during the official announcement, but this might just be worth the wait. Pricing has been said to be around $475 and I can’t help but feel that is a bit high for a 8GB tablet although it does come with 3G HSPA+ connectivity. Hopefully we’ll see a more reasonable price come launch on US soil. [via SlashGear] )

Xiaomi Phone to receive stock Android 2.3.5 soon, Ice Cream Sandwich in January Posted: 20 Sep 2011 02:17 PM PDT Xiaomi is the manufacturer behind the Xiaomi MI-One dubbed the MIUI Phone. They are the guys behind the 1.5 Ghz dual-core phone that will be shipping with the 3rd party custom MIUI Rom stock. The device looks great and I’m sure many were wondering if we’d see a stock version — today the answer is yes. Today, CEO Lei Jun confirmed that October will be when the phone is updated to a completely stock, vanilla Android 2.3.5 ROM rather than just MIUI. Users will be able to decide what version they’d like, and if they prefer vanilla or a custom ROM. Even more exciting was he also mentioned that Xiaomi plans to update their offering to Android 2.4 (or 4.0) Ice Cream Sandwich as early as January. While that may be a few months later than we are expecting ICS, at least the update is already in said plans. While we are sure many current phones will also receive updates to the much anticipated Android Ice Cream Sandwich, hearing it from a CEO’s mouth is always a good sign of things to come. Especially when you most likely will be snagging this phone off contract for the full retail price. In case you’ve forgot the Xiaomi Phone has some impressive specs that include a 4″ screen with a resolution of 480 x 854. The processor is a beefed up 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8260. The smartphone will pack in 4GB of ROM and 1GB of RAM not to mention having 32GB of internal storage. A nice well rounded phone if I don’t say so myself. That and ICS sounds amazing right? [via Engadget] )

AT&T ACER Iconia Tab A501 4G Review [Video] Posted: 20 Sep 2011 02:05 PM PDT If it was good the first time, it’s certainly good the second time, thus says Acer with their Iconia Tab A501, a device which is, in almost every way imaginable, exactly the same as the original Iconia Tab A500 we reviewed back on April 20, 2011. Therefor what we’ve got here is a bit of an upgrade to the original review, a bit of re-upping the details, and a few benchmarks to keep your mouth wetted for the big dinner. This device is one of the first tablets on the market able to work with AT&T’s current “4G” network, that being HSPA+ in this case, with LTE on the way though we’re pretty sure this tablet isn’t going to be upgraded in such a way as the activation of said network sweeps through the United States. What we’re going to show you here first is a hands-on and unboxing video as prepared by Cory Gunther, writer for Android Community and reviewer for SlashGear. Watch as he opens the box that has an extra 1, one less 0, and an AT&T logo on it. ACER Iconia A501 hands-on and unboxing video by Cory Gunther Hardware What you’ve got here is a 10.1-inch display attached to an Android 3.0.1 Honeycomb toting Acer machine that has no less than an NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor inside. This processor has two 1GHz cores in it and gives you access to the exclusive NVIDIA Tegra Zone app store, complete with ultra-fantastically detailed and powerful games galore. Inside you’ll also fine 1GB or RAM, 32GB internal storage, a microSD card slot to expand this by 32GB again, and a couple of lovely cameras. On the left edge you’ve got your transparent plastic power button, 3.5mm headphone jack, and microHDMI cord port. At the top you’ve got a removable cover that hides both your microSD card port and your full-sized SIM card port. The original A500 has this same set of ports, but has yet to have the SIM card port activated. On the right side of the device you’ve got a reset button deep inside a pinhole, a full sized USB port, microUSB, and a lovely power port. You’ll be powering this device exclusively through this power port and the massive cord you get with the device in the box – the microUSB port is only for connecting to your computer. The back of the device, again, has the main camera, a 5-megapixel camera with a cool single LED flash near it, the Acer logo looking lovely in the center of it all. The majority of the tablet is brushed aluminum, a thin piece of it making up the bulk of the back of the device. It’s touch enough to make you feel like you’ve got a high-quality product here made mainly of metal yet thin enough that the tablet doesn’t weigh a ton. Software and Performance This tablet features a fairly stripped down look at Honeycomb as most Android tablets thus far working with Honeycomb have been prone to do. You’ve got some unique bits in a sort of full-screen drawer system, all of this you can see working in the original hands-on video your humble narrator filmed some weeks ago: ACER Iconia Tab A500 hands-on with software Again notice that this is a video of the A500 while the device we’re reviewing in the post you’re in now is the A501, and that the only real difference is the connectivity to AT&T’s HSPA+ network. Lucky you, we did a couple of speed tests to show you what it means to be on said network – behold the fury of AT&T’s current 4G. It is connected, that’s for certain. Then come the benchmarks – we’ve run tests galore and YOU are gonna want to rummage through them to get a better idea of what you’re looking at here. Note that this tablet features the same NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor that we’ve also seen in every single multi-core Android tablet thus far. If you’re running dual-core and your running Android on a tablet, you’re running NVIDIA’s Tegra 2. Camera and Battery Life First you should note that you’ve got a standard Li-Po 3260 mAh battery under the hood for massive long life per full charge. As with basically every tablet that’s come out in the past few months, you’re good to go for more than a day’s worth of work on your Android tablet. No worries. For the camera, you’ve again got the same setup as the A500, so it’s an OK look at world through front and back cameras, certainly better than the iPad 2 on the back but, then again, most devices in general are, and the front is certainly adequate for video chat. Wrap-up When you consider purchasing a tablet, there’s a choice you must make that’s completely unheard of in the smartphone world – do you want a data connection or not? With the majority of the tablets to be released thus far toting Android, you either don’t get a choice of whether or not you get data OR you get the choice of one or the other. Here you can purchase the A500 with no contract or the A501 with an AT&T contract, this ending up being $329 with a new, two-year data agreement, or offered at $479 for the 16GB contract-free version. Compared to the $600 pricetag on the HTC Jetstream tablet with comparable specs, the A501 is a no-brainer. Another point to make here, and Cory was right on with his SlashGear review of this device, the A500 and the A501 look like one another but they do not look like any other tablet out there. You’ve got a unique set of chassis here, that’s for sure. Acer did their job well in making a unique amalgamation of metal, glass, and plastic, and all of it for the win. )

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