Android Community |
- HTC device codename list revealed, seems pretty accurate
- Samsung Repp heads to US Cellular, will be free
- Acer Iconia A200 10″ Tablet stops by the FCC
- Griffin’s Beacon Universal Remote Control turns any Android device into a remote
- Schmidt commits to “open Android”, says iPhone started late
- Republic Wireless launches VOIP network: $19 a month for unlimited everything
- Amazon’s UK Galaxy Nexus launch slips to December 2nd
- T-Mobile offers a 4G version of the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus
- Huawei is the latest target for Microsoft’s patent license fees
- Asus tipped to push Transformer Prime to Dec for Android 4.0
- T-Mobile Springboard Review
- Panasonic’s new Toughpad A1 and B1 can beat up your tablet
- AT&T LTE Shootout: HTC Vivid vs Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket
- Google lawyer says Microsoft sues because Windows Phone 7 is failing
- Team Xron’s CM7 dresses up your TouchPad in Honeycomb
- Motorola Xoom 32GB Wi-Fi just $349 New [Deal]
- Verizon double data promo gets more details
- Verizon Roadmap shows Galaxy Nexus coming November 21st, Xoom 2 late November
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus hidden notification LED [Video]
| HTC device codename list revealed, seems pretty accurate Posted: 08 Nov 2011 11:28 AM PST Whoa, check out this list of codenames that was just leaked regarding that all popular smartphone brand HTC. Apparently this is a list of their upcoming device codenames and from my first initial glance this is highly accurate. Plenty of those have already hit the market and we’ve been hearing a few others lately too, like the just revealed HTC Edge.
It seems our friends at pocketnow received this huge list of upcoming devices from HTC and have been sitting on it, but after watching every recently launched device appear on the list, like the Rezound (Vigor), Sensation XL and more they’ve decided to share it for all so check it out below. Act Their super secret HTC ninja source mentioned that not all will be used, but so far we’ve seen what — 11 or so of those hit the market in the past few months. Just to name a few we have the Vigor as the Rezound, Runnymede as the Sensation XL, Holiday, Prime, Pico, Omega, Jet, Ruby, Bliss, and Edge are among a few that have came out into the wild already. Click those links to see our coverage and more details on each, if you dare. I don’t know about you guys but that is a pretty accurate list so far, and with a few months left in 2011 we may end up seeing plenty more get checked off the list here shortly. From looking over things it appears this might only be smartphones because I don’t see the HTC Puccini tablet listed in there, but we could be wrong. Either way it looks like HTC has some extra special devices coming soon. With codenames such as “Fighter” or “Villa” we can expect some awesome devices coming soon. Let us know if any of these sound familiar, or if you have one and would like to share some details. [via PocketNow] )
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| Samsung Repp heads to US Cellular, will be free Posted: 08 Nov 2011 11:02 AM PST Who’s excited to hear about another extremely entry level smartphone? Powerhouse quad-core phones aren’t for everyone, and Samsung knows that. Today US Cellular has announced a brand new entry level Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone to the line-up called the Samsung Repp. I’m a little confused on the name, but either way this will be a great deal because it’s being offered for free.
So what do you get for the low low price of free? The Samsung Repp is an Android 2.3 Gingerbread phone with a 3.2″ display, 3 megapixel camera, 2GB internal storage and will be chugging along with an 800 Mhz processor under the hood. This might not be a powerhouse but it should text, email, and play Angry Birds with ease. For more details check out the product page at USCellular.com as it will share the full details and help persuade you into this neat little entry level handset. At least we have a large 1500 mAh battery that should last forever with that small screen and energy efficient processor (aka slow). The Samsung Repp will be a great alternative to the HTC Wildfire S, also available on US Cellular so if HTC Sense isn’t your thing then try the Samsung Repp instead. The Repp is listed as coming soon and for the awesomely low price of free, so hopefully we’ll hear more soon so those interested can go pick one up. [via US Cellular] )
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| Acer Iconia A200 10″ Tablet stops by the FCC Posted: 08 Nov 2011 10:40 AM PST Last week we spotted some information and a photo regarding this mystery tablet from Acer being called the A200. Today we’ve learned a few more details as its nicely made a quick pit stop at the FCC. We can confirm that this will be a 10″ tablet and from the images it appears to be quite thin too.
Currently Acer offers the Iconia A500 10″ tablet and the smaller A100 7″ variant so we were expecting this to many fall in the middle, but after digging through the FCC filing this clearly will be a 10″ Android tablet and possibly around 7-8mm thin. That could make this one of the thinnest tablets around, and that would be a big improvement over the first series from Acer.
No other details are known at this point, and the FCC has been tight lipped. Obviously this will pack some sort of dual-core processor or possibly even a quad-core. We are expecting Android 3.2 Honeycomb on this device but if it ships later this year there is a good chance we’ll see 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich instead. I’d be happy with either but would love some ICS. Acer has used the NVIDIA Tegra 2 in the past so there is a decent chance we’ll see the quad-core Tegra 3 in this once it ships. We should be hearing more soon now it has cleared the FCC. [via Wireless Goodness] )
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| Griffin’s Beacon Universal Remote Control turns any Android device into a remote Posted: 08 Nov 2011 10:12 AM PST Ever since the faithful old infrared port started disheartening from Palm Pilots, I’ve been wondering how one might replicate the functionality of the universal remote control programs that graced PalmOS. Today Android owners can get a simulacrum of that experience with the Griffin’s Beacon Universal Remote Control system, which will connect with Dijit Media’s remote app to control any home theater device with an IR remote. The $69.99 system is shipping from Griffin and major retailers now.
It works like this: the Beacon, an unassuming device about the size of a hockey puck, sits on your coffee table or near your entertainment system. The Beacon pairs with your Android phone or tablet via Bluetooth, and the Dijit app for Android (a free download in the Android Market) controls your TV, cable or satellite box, DVD/Blu-ray player, et cetera by sending commands through the infrared port on the Beacon. The Dijit app also features comprehensive TV listing and a full Honeycomb interface. The idea isn’t exactly new, since Griffin’s had a similar device available for the iPhone for a while. But the Android version of the Beacon should work with just about any Android device, and for home theater junkies $69.99 is a fair price to pay for functionality that’s at least as good as one of Logitech’s Harmony remotes. This also makes the infrared port on the Vizio tablet somewhat obsolete, since universal remote capability can now be added to the tablet of your choice – Amazon Kindle Fire, anyone? )
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| Schmidt commits to “open Android”, says iPhone started late Posted: 08 Nov 2011 09:48 AM PST In a visit to South Korea, Reuters reports that Google boss Eric Schmidt wanted to reassure the native home of Samsung that the company’s upcoming acquisition of Motorola wouldn’t impact its relationship with other Android manufacturers. “The Motorola deal will close and we will run it sufficiently and independently,” he said,”it will not violate the openness of Android.” Schmidt also took a moment to comment on the late Steve Jobs, whose official biography is causing much speculation on the early days of Android and the iPhone.
This isn’t the first time Google has reassured its OEM partners of its continuing neutrality in the Motorola Mobility purchase, but considering Schmidt’s audience, the repetition is understandable. Google has also committed to protecting its partners from Android-based litigation, though Motorola is the only manufacturer that has yet to sign a patent licensing agreement with Microsoft. Apple doesn’t want to deal with anyone: they’re suing Samsung, HTC and others over design patents all over the world. Speaking on Steve Jobs’ biography, Schmidt had nothing but good things to say about the late Apple CEO. He did take a moment to get in a quick dig at the iPhone, though, noting that development on the original Android system (before Google bought the start-up company) pre-dates all known development on the iPhone. “I would also point out that the Android effort started before the iPhone effort,” said Schmidt. Technically this is true: even though the first commercial Android device wasn’t available until 2008, Andy Rubin founded the original Android, Inc. company way back in 2003. Schmidt refused to comment on the biography itself, and it’s worth noting that Schmidt served on the Board of Directors for Apple from 2006-2009, and had considerable personal interaction with Steve Jobs. [via SlashGear] )
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| Republic Wireless launches VOIP network: $19 a month for unlimited everything Posted: 08 Nov 2011 08:23 AM PST We took a look at Republic Wireless’ pre-launch buzz a while back, and now invitations to the service are going out to those who signed up for notifications. The WiFi-assisted phone network will charge just $19 a month for unlimited voice, texting and data – with a few caveats. The hybrid connection system requires new hardware, and the first phone being offered is the original LG Optimus at $199 contract-free, though early adopters can get it for just $99.
There’s a catch, naturally. Republic Wireless‘ custom “hybrid” system actively switches between WiFi and mobile voice/data, only using a mobile connection when WiFi isn’t available. The first and so far only mobile operator to partner with Republic is The Now Network, though the company says it’s looking to expand. As long as you stay on WiFi there’s no problem with data overages, but if you use more than 550 minutes of talk, 150 text messages or 300MB of data on the mobile network you may be “encouraged” to end your service. So, cheap calling with a real cell phone number, plus limited access to calls, texts and data while “roaming” away from an open WiFi hotspot. We’re sure that few people will be intrigued, especially those who gravitate towards cheap pay-as-you-go cell phone plans. But the tech-forward community that Republic seems to be targeting is downright addicted to mobile data, not to mention the latest and greatest in phone hardware. The idea is interesting to be sure, but until Republic signs up some carriers with more breadth and gets some high-end Android hardware, I’ll be begrudgingly stuck with old-school contracts. )
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| Amazon’s UK Galaxy Nexus launch slips to December 2nd Posted: 08 Nov 2011 07:55 AM PST For those waiting on the Galaxy Nexus since its announcement three weeks ago, waiting has become a downright chore. The latest bit of bad news comes out of Amazon’s UK division, where Phandroid spotted that the Galaxy Nexus’ ship date has been pushed back to December 2nd, fifteen days after the official UK launch date of November 17th. Samsung hasn’t changed their official date yet, but the Amazon shift doesn’t look good.
In the event that Amazon’s date change doesn’t extend to the entire country, the shift is a pretty big loss for the online retailer. With the UK and the rest of Europe currently scheduled to get some pure Nexus goodness of the 17th, early adopters aren’t likely to wait around for Amazon to sort out some apparent supply chain issues. Of course, if the official date is soon to change, that would be a major let-down for Android fans across the UK and EU – a six-week gap between announcement and launch isn’t exactly stellar. If UK customers are frustrated, US Android fans are starting to get downright irate. There still is no official word on a price or date for the Galaxy Nexus from Verizon, which has an exclusive on the Google phone for at least some time after its release. Current leaks point to November 17th, or November 21st, or November 28th, or later – your guess is as good as ours. At least the $299 on-contract price seems pretty stable. Google has historically kept a pretty tight grip on the Nexus line of phones, and it would be a good move for them to start telling their retail and carrier partners to stop messing around, before hungry developers start invading the Google campus in search of Nexii. Check out our hands-on looks at the Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich below: Galaxy Nexus Hands-on Ice Cream Sandwich Hands-on Device Info
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| T-Mobile offers a 4G version of the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Posted: 08 Nov 2011 07:31 AM PST Hot on the heels of the 7-inch Springboard, T-Mobile is adding yet another tiny tablet to its lineup of connected devices. The new Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will be available with T-Mobile “4g” bands, starting on November 16th, the same day as the Springboard. Prices start at $249.99 for a subsidized tablet on a two-year data contract, minus a $50 mail-in rebate. Contract-free pricing has not been announced yet.
As a 7-inch Honeycomb tablet, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will compete directly with the Huawei-made Springboard on T-Mobile. In most specs they’re roughly equal, including a 1.2Ghz dual-core processor and 16GB of internal memory. The Springboard has the Samsung tablet beat on display, however, since its 7-inch screen is 1280 x 800 to the Tab’s 1024 x 600. While the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus gets Samsung’s TouchWiz UI over Android 3.2, the Springboard runs a stock version of Honeycomb… for the most part. Be sure to read our review for the details. Both tablets come with a bit of a catch as far as the pricing goes: in addition to $50 rebates and data packages starting at $30, T-Mobile is counting the $249.99 price for the Galaxy Tab and $179.99 price for the Springboard as “down-payments.” Customers will be charged another $10 every month for 20 months to pay for the rest of the tablet over a two-year contract. That brings the total price for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus to almost more than $500 over a two-year period, not counting data fees – the 16GB Wifi version, for comparison, is going for $399. )
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| Huawei is the latest target for Microsoft’s patent license fees Posted: 08 Nov 2011 06:57 AM PST Let it be known, ambitious original equipment manufacturers: if you get too successful, expect a visit from Microsoft, asking for their latest round of
Microsoft is becoming a huge player in the Android world, albeit at one step removed. Already more than half of all the Android phones and tablets sold include a kickback to Microsoft at some level. The company is estimated to be making $444 million annually from Android license fees alone, although that figure has almost certainly risen since it was reported. As in most of Microsoft’s patent dealings, specific patents and processes have not been mentioned. In dueling interviews, lawyers from Microsoft and Google have played out the proxy patent battle in the media. Microsoft claims that Google is standing on its shoulders as far as software goes, and is bringing its portfolio of thousands of patents to bear on manufacturers instead of suing Google directly. Google has publicly called Microsoft’s tactics extortion, and called into question the validity of the software patent system. All this is in addition to suits from Oracle against Google and Apple against everyone else. [via SlashGear] )
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| Asus tipped to push Transformer Prime to Dec for Android 4.0 Posted: 08 Nov 2011 03:51 AM PST We have heard bits and pieces about the coming Asus Transformer Prime tablet already. We have even seen a few benchmarks of the new tablet surface and it looks to be very fast indeed. If you have been holding out for one of these tablets, a new rumor is claiming that the launch of the tablet has been pushed.
According to the rumor, Asus will push the tablet to a December launch specifically so it can be fitted with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. This delay for the newer OS is said by some to be an attempt to prevent tablet shoppers from moving to Windows tablets. The same sources that claim the delay is to help prevent Windows tablet defections also say that Google is cozying up to Asian tablet makers that had been ignored to some extent in the past. The Transformer Prime was initially expected to hit on November 9. It has made its way through the FCC already with the new Tegra 3 chip onboard. According to sources, the tablet will launch in early December and will pack ICS rather than Honeycomb when unwrapped. At least the tablet will be here by Christmas. [via SlashGear] )
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| Posted: 07 Nov 2011 09:01 PM PST You’ve got a lot of choice when looking for a new Android tablet, but the T-Mobile Springboard is something novel. For just $179 (after a mail-in rebate and on contract, natch) you get a 7-inch Honeycomb tablet with a 720p screen and a dual-core processor. That makes the Springboard one of the smallest tablets around, and assuming you’re down with T-Mobile’s mobile data fees, one of the cheapest as well. The Springboard will be available starting on November 16th.
Hardware The Springboard is a rebranded version of Huawei’s Mediapad, and coming from a Chinese company known for low-end phones, it’s a surprisingly powerful device. A 1.2Ghz dual-core processor and 768MB of memory are in line with subsidized tablets that are much more expensive. The all-metal back is a pretty obvious imitation of the original iPad, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t nice – this is one of the most solid tablets I’ve ever held. It’s a little heavy when compared with plastic tablets, but at this size it’s easily held in a single hand. Seven inches isn’t the ideal screen size for everyone, but if you’re a fan of the form factor, you’re in for a treat. The power and volume buttons on the left of the tablet are the only controls, and you’ll find an HDMI port, micro USB port and headphone port elsewhere. Unfortunately, the Springboard requires a separate charger – you can’t use the included microUSB cable for anything except syncing. 16GB of internal storage should be enough for most, but if not, you can access the MicroSD card slot by sliding a plastic tab off the back. A 5-megapixel camera on the back is twinned to a front-facing cam.
The compact size of the tablet is one of its most endearing features. A thin bezel combines with a 10.4 mm profile to make the Sprinboard a truly tiny piece of tech. It isn’t quite as thin as some later Galaxy Tab models, but it’s extremely comfortable and slips into a jacket pocket easily. The screen is extremely sharp at this size, and the brightness is enough to overcome even high levels of glare. We’re used to seeing this resolution on 10-inch tablets, and when compared with 1024 x 600 models lie the HTC Flyer and Nook Color, it looks fantastic. Software As good as the Springboard’s hardware is… that’s about as bad as the software is. On these specs Honeycomb 3.2 might not be able to fly, but it should be at least as smooth and stable as the original XOOM. Sadly, that just isn’t the case. Slowdown and stuttering are present pretty much everywhere, and the respectable internals seem to be almost asleep. A Quadrant score of 1800 or above won’t set the world on fire, but on stock Honeycomb, I expected better. Except that this isn’t quite stock. There’s no custom UI to be seen, but it’s clear there’s some extensive modifications from T-Mobile thrown in for good measure. More than a dozen built-in apps can’t be removed, and almost none of them are welcome – Blockbuster and navigation apps rear their ugly heads. What’s even more frustrating is that there are modifications to core Android apps like the Market, which – perhaps to drive users to the non-removable Blockbuster and Netflix apps – doesn’t give you access to movie rentals. We’ve contacted T-Mobile about this troubling modification and are waiting to hear back.
There’s nothing particularly new or rare about the tablet’s components, so there’s nowhere to look for this poor performance but T-Mobile’s modifications. I suppose it could also be Huawei, but then their name isn’t on the back of the device. Slowdown isn’t the only issue: random crashes and freezes were a pretty constant presence. Since I couldn’t rent a movie from the Market I opened up Netflix, but half an hour into the movie the app froze and never recovered, even after a reboot. The software made Honeycomb, normally an enjoyable experience with an admittedly steep learning curve, a frustrating chore. The hardware should support an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade without complaint, but given the Springboard’s OEM nature and low cost, there’s no telling when or if it’ll come.
Reception and Battery T-Mobile’s network doesn’t extend to my home, so I was restricted to Wifi for most of my testing. When I took the Springboard to a family gathering in the middle of Arlington, Texas, I got five bars of “4G” HSPA+. If it wasn’t for two or three thirty-second dropouts, the experience would have been fine. The 4100 mAH battery consistently lasted for 7-8 of prolonged browsing and music. On average without taxing downloads or 3D games, you should be able to get through a full day of use without a recharge. It’s a good thing, too, since the chunky charger is the only way to get power into the Springboard. Media
Music playback is a little quiet on the Springboard’s small stereo speakers, so be sure to pack some headphones or find a Bluetooth speaker. Photos and video were nothing amazing, but at this price for a tablet you shouldn’t be expecting much anyway. Videos were clear and crisp on the 720p screen – until the apps crashed, which was pretty regular. Reading on the Kindle app was an enjoyable experience. 7 inches is pretty perfect for replicating a paperback, and the tablet is light enough to easily handle with a single hand. Wrap-up
It’s a cryin’ shame that a low-cost device with some genuinely impressive hardware is brought low by some bad changes to Android. Honeycomb is never a speed demon, but the slowdown and glitches experienced on the Springboard are more than enough to be a dealbreaker when offerings form Samsung and HTC are so much more solid. My time with the Springboard makes me wish that I could see some community mods running on it, or even better, a non-branded Wifi-only version. Unless T-Mobile decides to significantly improve the software, there are much better options out there. Check out the hands-on video below for a better look at the T-Mobile Springboard in action:                   Device Info
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| Panasonic’s new Toughpad A1 and B1 can beat up your tablet Posted: 07 Nov 2011 08:59 PM PST Panasonic’s got a reputation for tough-as-nails laptops with its Toughbook line, and it looks like they’re planning on extending that reputation to the booming tablet sector. The manufacturer has announced a pair of new entries to its Toughpad line, the 10-inch A1 and the 7-inch B1. Specs on the former are encouraging, while specs on the later are, for the moment, absent.
The 10-inch A1 has a 1.2Ghz Marvell dual-core processor, a gig of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and an open MicroSD card slot. Those are some fairly typical numbers. What aren’t typical are this tablet’s tolerances: it’ll withstand a 4-foot drop without issue, temperatures between 14 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit without breaking a sweat, and at least some resistance to water and dirt. Business customizations allow for remote access and encryption- an important addition when many interested customers will likely be business-oriented. Panasonic hasn’t mentioned battery capacity or camera quality, but it will be available with LTE or WiMAX connectivity. All that toughness comes with a predicable heft of 2.13 pounds, buit that’s a small price to pay for a taqblet that qualifies as a blunt instrument in some states. The tablet may not have access to the Android Market since it’s substituting the Business AppPortal, and unfortunately that may mean that it’s also sporting Gingerbread – you’ve got to have Google’s blessing for Honeycomb. Check out Panasonic’s opinionated Toughpad video: The 7-inch B1 doesn’t get anything except a name and screen size in the announcement, but it’ll probably have a similar set of specs when it launches – whenever that might be. Pricing and availability were also no-shows, though Panasonic’s probably not too interested in the consumer market for either model.        [via SlashGear] )
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| AT&T LTE Shootout: HTC Vivid vs Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket Posted: 07 Nov 2011 05:20 PM PST AT&T customers in one of their new LTE network coverage areas have a choice to make if they want a smartphone that takes advantage of the higher speeds. Only two phones have launched with AT&T LTE capability: the HTC Vivid and the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket. Sure, you could read our extensive reviews on the Vivid or Skyrocket, but you’re busy. We’ve tallied up the pros and cons of each one in one handy-dandy article.
Hardware Both phones reach towards the high end of the Android spectrum, with 4.5-inch screens, dual core processors and a full gigabyte of RAM. The Skyrocket’s processor wins out in a head to head bout: its 1.5Ghz speed rating is demonstrated in a benchmark score that’s nearly 50% higher than the Vivid’s. Both have an equal 16GB of memory and an empty MicroSD slot, though once again the Samsung phone has the advantage in that it’s accessible without removing the battery and restarting the phone.
HTC is the clear winner in build quality. The Vivid feels a lot more solid than the Skyrocket, in just about every way. While the phones share almost exactly the same footprint, the Skyrocket is slightly thinner and just feels a lot more fragile. The Vivid pays for this solid feeling in weight: it’s about 30% heavier than the Skyrocket, a fact that’s very noticeable when I slipped both phones into opposite pockets. Both phones feature 8 megapixel cameras with front-facing secondary cameras as well, though the performance of the Samsung camera seems to be noticeably better. Screen
When it comes to the phone’s screen, you’ve got a real hum-dinger of a decision to make: go with the Skyrocket’s rather pedestrian 800 x 480 resolution on a gorgeous Super AMOLED panel, or the Vivid’s more appropriate 960 x 540 res on a dimmer and duller LCD screen. It’s a tough decision, to be sure. I tend to prefer as much resolution as I can get, especially on newer super-sized screens. But the appeal of that AMOLED display is hard to deny, even then the pixels are considerably stretched. All I can say is that if you’re used to an AMOLED display, you probably won’t want to go back to LCD, but if you haven’t been swayed so far, you’ll appreciate the Vivid’s extra resolution. Software
Sense or TouchWiz: pick your poison. Both the custom UIs on these phones are functional and useful, at least to some degree, though I tend to prefer HTC’s Sense. The Skyrocket’s implementation of TouchWiz was also jittery and tended to lag – surprising, on the more powerful processor. However, this lag didn’t extend into regular apps. The Skyrocket and Vivid both have an annoying amount of pre-installed bloatware, but on the former at least you can remove some of it. AT&T has confirmed plans to update both phones to Ice Cream Sandwich early next year. Battery
The Skyrocket is the clear winner when it comes to battery. Between the larger 1850 mAh battery and the more efficient screen I was able to clock a full day of usage out of the Samsung phone with almost 30% battery left. The Vivid barely made it through the day. That said, if you’re in the habit of charging your phone at your desk, in your car, et cetera, the Vivid will probably be fine – just don’t forget where your charger cable is. Phone and Data When testing AT&T”s LTE speeds on both phones, they each averaged in the 16-17Mbps range. That’s not outstanding considering what kind of performance we see from Verizon LTE on a regular basis, but it’s an appreciable bump up from HSPA+. Calls on both phones were clear so long as I stayed in a high coverage area, but the Vivid seemed to fare better on one or two bars, giving a slightly better conversation with fewer complaints on the other end. Extras and Price
The HTC phone came with just the charger and a data cable, while the Samsung phone also included a basic earbud headset – a nice touch. Neither have a MicroSD card included, but odds are that if you’ve got more media than the 16GB of on-board storage can accommodate you’ve already got a card lying around. It’s worth noting that the Skyrocket has NFC, which could get a lot more important once Ice Cream Sandwich and Android Beam are available. The Skyrocket is pretty expensive at $249, $50 more than the generic AT&T Galaxy S II. The Vivid isn’t exactly a bargain either at $199. In some markets, AT&T is offering $100 off both phones, though that seems to be a here-or-there deal depending upon your ZIP code. If you’re definitely planning buying either one, call AT&T up and see if you can get that discount with a little customer service support. Wrap-up
The Skyrocket is clearly the superior phone, with a much faster processor, longer battery life, NFC and an easily accessible MicroSD card slot. The Vivid is no slouch either, and it’s also $50 cheaper wherever you are. I’m going to recommend springing for the Galaxy S II Skyrocket, with three exceptions. If you’re a fan of HTC’s hardware or Sense software, if you must have a higher resolution (albeit on a poorer panel) or if you just want to save 50 greenbacks, go with the Vivid. Device Info
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| Google lawyer says Microsoft sues because Windows Phone 7 is failing Posted: 07 Nov 2011 03:52 PM PST The war of words between Google and Microsoft has reached into the media once again, as SFGate has interviewed Google’s patent lawyer Tim Porter. Refuting the claims made by his Redmond counterpart in an earlier interview, Porter said that Microsoft is attacking Android because they feel their own product (Windows Phone 7) is marginalized and threatened. He said that while the meteoric rise of Android hasn’t been halted by Microsoft’s tactics, companies that have to worry about patent litigation can’t focus on innovation.
Harkening back to Microsoft’s previous patent litigation against Linux, Porter accused Microsoft of gaining revenue from other company’s successful products by means of the courts. That’s certainly true: estimates put Microsoft’s Android earnings at more than 400 million dollars a year, and with more than half of all Android devices made paying Microsoft in some way, that’s not likely to end soon. Porter notes that Microsoft didn’t earn a single software patent until the late 80s, after both DOS and Word were already smash hits. Here’s the full quote:
Porter stopped short of saying that software shouldn’t be patentable, a view that many are taking in response to current patent wars, but did say that the current system is broken and needs serious attention. In speaking on Microsoft’s assertion that Google doesn’t stand behind its OEM partners and left them vulnerable to IP attack (yeesh, Microsoft, ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy?) Porter repeated the company line that they stand behind their partners. Unfortunately, it looks like the multi-sided pantent battle between Google, Microsoft, Apple and dozens of others isn’t going to end any time soon. [via SlashGear] )
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| Team Xron’s CM7 dresses up your TouchPad in Honeycomb Posted: 07 Nov 2011 03:14 PM PST Just like the rest of us, the CyanogenMod team doesn’t have access to the Honeycomb source code, so for now the best they can do for custom ROMS and the HP TouchPad is Gingerbread. But themers are a crafty bunch, and since CyanogenMod is open sourced, a group calling themselves Team Xron has released a skinned version to at least make you feel like you’re using a tablet OS. Users won’t have access to Honeycomb apps, but the various customizations do make Gingerbread look pretty slick.
Installation is simple if you’ve already shoved CyanogenMod onto the TouchPad: just transfer the ZIP over, reboot, select ClockworkMod recovery and flash the new software. You’ll definitely want to make Nandroid backup, just in case the new color scheme doesn’t agree with you, and as always when dealing with community mods there’s no guarantees of success. I f you haven’t used the rather complicated SDK method of pushing the CM7 files to your TouchPad, you can just replicate the installation method and swap out the zip file. In addition to the tablet makeover, Team Xron has added themed widgets and am appropriate wireless printing app. It looks like they’re updating frequently – certainly more frequently than CyanogenMod, which hasn’t released any new info since the Alpha 2 version weeks ago. Early reports indicate that the build is fast, but certain apps like Gtalk are having issues. Remember, CM7 includes its own theme engine, so if you’re happy with your current build it might be bust to just apply a community theme. Still not sure about adding Android to the TouchPad’s native WebOS? Take a gander at our hands-on video. [via Liliputing] )
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| Motorola Xoom 32GB Wi-Fi just $349 New [Deal] Posted: 07 Nov 2011 03:13 PM PST Today the Motorola Xoom is up for another round of discounts over at dailysteals.com only this time the price is for a brand new Motorola Xoom, not a refurbished unit. Recently the Motorola XOOM has been the victim of some low prices like $339 at Amazon, or $349 from Woot but those were all refurbished models making this deal today one of the best we’ve seen yet. It’s one day only though so you might want to hurry.
For all the Xoom news you can handle feel free to look over our Motorola Xoom portal, then check out our review of the original Honeycomb tablet — the Motorola Xoom. In case for some magical reason you don’t know what the Xoom is I’ll share the details. We have a 10.1″ 1280 x 800 resolution tablet with a powerful 1.0 GHz dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 5 megapixel camera on the rear and a front shooter for chatting. All running on the absolute latest Android 3.2.1 Honeycomb. This deal is for the Wi-Fi model, and is a pretty stellar price for an original piece of hardware. I’ll be the first to say it — the Xoom isn’t extremely pretty, lightweight, or thin but it sure is a great overall tablet that has tons of developer support and will most likely be among one of the first tablets to get the upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. If you’ve been waiting on a deal for this bad boy and didn’t want to settle for a refurbished unit, this is your moment. Again, it is $150 off and can be yours today for just $349 over at DailySteals.com. You have around 7 or so hours to hurry and decide, then click that huge “Get it Now” button. Enjoy! Device Info
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| Verizon double data promo gets more details Posted: 07 Nov 2011 01:02 PM PST In cased anyone missed it, Verizon is starting a double your data promotion tomorrow. Basically if you sign up and pay for 2GB of smartphone data a month, they’ll be nice and give you 4GB for the same price — take that AT&T. The deal goes live tomorrow and is available to both new and current Verizon Wireless customers and we now have a few additional details regarding this “Double Data” deal.
The image can be seen in the full size gallery below. What we have is a brand new double data promotion that starts tomorrow, November 8th, and users will get double for their money. We have reached out to Verizon regarding how long this promotion will last and be sure to update as soon as we hear anything. Hopefully it lasts long enough for those waiting to buy the Galaxy Nexus, it might be in stores come the 21st. Verizon is offering this deal on all current tiered data plans, obviously unlimited doesn’t count here. – $30 for 2GB becomes 4GB According to some leaked documents from Verizon this promo deal will actually last for the life of the smartphone plan. So as long as you don’t change to something else later, you’ll always have the awesome low price and get double the data. Basically grandfathered in until you decide to change something, then they’ll take any chance they get to make you pay more. The post this morning we didn’t know how long this would last for customers, but now we know. Sadly mobile hotspot data and pricing does not count here, only for 4G LTE smartphone data plans. As soon as we hear anything official from Verizon regarding how long the double data promotion will be available for subscribers we will be sure to update so everyone can be prepared to jump ship if necessary. Check out the full sized document by clicking below.  [via vzbuzz] )
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| Verizon Roadmap shows Galaxy Nexus coming November 21st, Xoom 2 late November Posted: 07 Nov 2011 12:11 PM PST Just when we all thought the Galaxy Nexus release date couldn’t get any more confusing another leaked roadmap appears, only this time things look a bit more accurate. According to the leaked image below the Samsung Galaxy Nexus will be available for web only orders starting November 21st, a Monday. Most likely it will launch officially on Thursday the 24th.
Just last week we were hearing and seeing November 17th so either that was incorrect, or things have clearly changed. Along with the extremely popular Galaxy Nexus many are patiently waiting for, we also see the Samsung Illusion mid-range phone, and the new Motorola Xoom 2′s all on the list. The same image shows some other accurate dates. Such as the DROID RAZR on 11-11, and the HTC Rezound on the 14th. With those being correct, the others might be too.
If the leaked image from our friends at Droid-Life is accurate, we’ll be seeing the Galaxy Nexus here very soon, then those new Xoom’s just in time for the holiday season. The document lists the Motorola Xoom tablets are coming November 30th, which lines up right on time with previous reports. A device as big as the Galaxy Nexus launching during one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year makes sense I guess, but I personally wont be found dead in the hordes of people running through Walmart and the mall come this holiday season and Black Friday. Looks like I’ll be reserving my own online and having it shipped right to my door, just saying. Stay tuned for more details as Verizon should have an official word any day now, in the mean time check out our hands-on with the Galaxy Nexus below. Galaxy Nexus Hands-on Device Info
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[via Droid-Life] )
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| Samsung Galaxy Nexus hidden notification LED [Video] Posted: 07 Nov 2011 11:25 AM PST Who knew the Samsung Galaxy Nexus featured a multicolored notification LED hidden on the bottom chin area? We mentioned this feature back in October before the big unveiling of the Galaxy Nexus but it seems many still don’t know about it. Most hands-on coverage doesn’t mention it either so we figured a little video preview showing you what to expect would be worth a quick 25-30 second glance.
Shown in the image above is the completely hidden multicolored notification LED that is present on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. It resides where the capacitive buttons previously called home and is completely hidden until it lights up and notifies the world. The original G1 had one, and the Nexus One featured the same idea with a multicolored notification light in the Blackberry style direction cursor ball. Sadly that notification light never received its full potential from Google but third party apps and ROM’s like CyanogenMod made it completely customizable. I had blue for texts, green for emails, red for Gmail, cyan for twitter, and white for missed calls. A few early Android phones had this feature and I wish ALL still had it, but sadly they do not. I’m happy to report that Google is bringing back the notification LED with the Galaxy Nexus, just like we mentioned above. Below we have a very short video demonstrating just how it works (Thanks anonymous). I’m sure it will be highly customizable from Google themselves in Ice Cream Sandwich — or from third party apps and ROM’s. Galaxy Nexus Notification LED If you look close you can see it at 13 seconds, and again around 22. It pulses for a second or so and appears to be a nice cyan blue color similar to everything else with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. If this truly is completely customizable I will be one very happy camper, why turn on and check your device for that pesky Twitter notification when a simple and low power LED light can tell you instead. I truly loved having this feature on my Nexus One and would love it if more phones came with a similar option. I don’t know about you guys but I just want this phone already. Latest rumors are saying around November 17th, or maybe the 21st so we’ll just have to wait and see. Hurry it up Verizon! In case you missed it, we have plenty of video of both the new Galaxy Nexus and Ice Cream Sandwich so check those clips out below. Galaxy Nexus Hands-on Ice Cream Sandwich Hands-on Device Info
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