Android Community |
- ASUS Transformer update 9.2.1.21 rolling out for Ice Cream Sandwich
- Google Drive hands-on and impressions
- Nova Launcher updated to Version 1.1
- Google Drive app now in the Google Play Store
- Google Drive revealed: Dropbox beware
- Unlocked Galaxy Nexus on sale in the Google Play Store for $399
- Samsung details its ICS upgrade plans in the US
- ZTE to make two Galaxy Note-style smartphones
- Samsung UNPACKED 2012 app hits the Google Play Store
- LG Optimus M+ available now on MetroPCS
- Sony Xperia S gets ClockworkMod and CyanogenMod 9
- Unofficial desktop Google Music Player available for Windows
- Concept app steals keyboard taps via phone sensors
- Yahoo! Sportacular App updated with NFL draft coverage
- Enhanced Email Review
- HTC Amaze 4G Ice Cream Sandwich update leaked
- XCom Global Huawei 3G USB Modem Review
- HTC Sensation getting ICS on Cincinnati Bell
- Motorola Photon LTE tipped as coming soon
- Verizon drops Galaxy Nexus price to $199
| ASUS Transformer update 9.2.1.21 rolling out for Ice Cream Sandwich Posted: 24 Apr 2012 11:07 AM PDT ASUS has just announced a quick update for their popular and original Eee Pad Transformer Tablet — not the Prime. The update is available starting today for users that have already updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and should fix a slew of bugs, as well as the lag issue some were experiencing on ICS. More details and changelog after the break.
The TF101 was updated to Android 4.0 ICS back in February, and this is the first update since so users should be happy to see some changes and improvements. We aren’t seeing anything major other than a few bugs and specifically that change to help the lag issues, but here is the changelog as provided by ASUS: Improves system stability The update will begin rolling out today, April 24th, so users should already be seeing this hit their tablets. As usual you can manually pull the update by going to settings > about tablet > check for updates or ASUS Firmware updates and enjoy this latest build. Feel free to give it a try and let us know should you have any problems. Does stability seem improved, and how about those lag issues? Drop us a comment and enjoy. Device Info
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| Google Drive hands-on and impressions Posted: 24 Apr 2012 10:34 AM PDT Google has finally made it official today. Releasing their new cloud storage option known as Google Drive into the wild. If you were thinking this was just a Dropbox competitor you were wrong. This integrates all of Google’s services into one. Google Docs has been combined with Drive, and they use the power of search and more to make it a complete offering. Check out the screenshots or hit the links below to get started yourself.
For now this appears to be more of an extension to Google Docs than an actual complete cloud storage offering. While we can rename files, documents, PDF’s, videos and more and upload them, I’m not seeing options to create folders or anything intuitive like that on the mobile app. Everything I upload goes to one central location, instead of separate area’s like I’d like. With Dropbox I can send documents to a documents folder, video’s to the same, app backups to a backup folder and even create new ones. With Drive it appears to all be in one location unless you use the web interface to add folders and change locations.
For now it seems to mainly be focused on documents, spreadsheets, and photos but most likely more are coming soon. Users get 5GB free cloud storage as we’ve been hearing for weeks now. And existing Google Docs won’t take up any of that 5GB of storage either. Each Gmail gets 5GB free and you can have multiple accounts. Prices on expansion for storage space are as follows: 25GB for $2.49/month, 100GB for $4.99/month or even 1TB for $49.99/month and up to 16TB if you truly need. With Google Drive you can upload nearly any file, and open and playback/view anything too. I did have a problem with an old video that failed to upload, but that was all. As far as opening it appears that anything it can hold, it can open and I’ve been able to play video, listen to music, open up Inventor project notes and more. So far I’m really liking the quickness of uploads, the ease of use, and the entire system as a whole but they’ll need to make some quick changes moving forward. This isn’t the top-down full out cloud option many thought it would be, and for now it looks like Dropbox is still safe. We need options for where to send in our Drive, folder support, and more share options but this is a great start. Check out Google Drive in the Play Store by clicking here, and check out all of our coverage below the gallery of pictures.           
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| Nova Launcher updated to Version 1.1 Posted: 24 Apr 2012 10:08 AM PDT If you’ve got a Galaxy Nexus or an updated/modded Ice Cream Sandwich device, your choices for worthy launchers are pretty slim. The best to emerge among the short field is Nova Launcher, from WidgetLocker developer TeslaCoil Software. We’ve mentioned Nova Launcher before, but their latest update adds some notable new features for both free and paid users.
If you prefer, you can finally get the old-school vertical scroll back instead of the paginated app drawer that mimics the default launcher. The drawer transparency is now configurable (so you can see the wallpaper behind it) and you can add items to a homescreen or folder in bulk. Perhaps the most useful addition is that you can place a 1×1 widget (say, a flashlight or tether toggle) in the dock on the bottom of the homescreen. Users of the $4 Nova Launcher Prime get access to new custom tabs in the app drawer, and there’s plenty of bugfixes and performance updates. The interface for Ice Cream Sandwich tablets has been updates with proper resizing. I did notice a few unwanted force closes as I was playing around with the update, but given the dedication that this developer has shown, I’d expect those to be fixed in a smaller update very soon. Because it’s based on the default ICS launcher, Nova Launcher is only for Android 4.0 devices.
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| Google Drive app now in the Google Play Store Posted: 24 Apr 2012 09:34 AM PDT It’s finally here: Google’s Drive app is live in the Google Play Store and you can install it right now. As some had speculated, it replaces Google Docs entirely and integrates your current documents into Google Drive. Go to the Google Play Store on your Android phone, and if you’ve already got Google Docs installed it should replace the app entirely. Here’s the official announcement, straight from Google itself.
Strangely, the app doesn’t seem to work at the moment: Google’s Drive servers aren’t live yet, so you get the same 404 message as the drive.google.com website. It should go live very soon. Google has just made the service official – you can see the explanatory video below: And a detailed look at the transition from Google Docs to Google Drive: Like DropBox, Google Drive syncs between the Android app, web site and desktop component. Free users get a generous 5GB (your currents Docs don’t count towards your total) and you can add 20GB increments for $4 a month each. The app and website should be live momentarily, and we’ll have a hands-on look at the new service soon. Update: The Google Drive website is live! Click here to check it out. The app seems to be working as well.    
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| Google Drive revealed: Dropbox beware Posted: 24 Apr 2012 08:42 AM PDT News and leaks on Google Drive has reached a fever pitch, with most of the information pointing to 5 gigabytes of free storage and integration on Android and other Google services. Today Google’s French arm posted a full press release for Google Drive, including all the juicy details. The post went down almost immediately, but a translated copy was posted by Google+ user Gerwin Sturm.
There aren’t any surprises here: it’s a 5GB data locker similar to Dropbox or Box.net, but deeply integrated with Google services, especially Google Docs. (Docs users will notice that your storage limit has already been increased to 5GB.) This lines up well with the screenshots leaked earlier, which show a Drive interface almost identical to Docs. You can open files in a variety of formats, including HD video and Photoshop files, directly from the web. Naturally there’s a strong Android component to Google Drive, with an app that we previously saw on a Googler’s developer phone. Apparently it’s optimized for both smartphones and tablets, as most of Google’s first-party apps are these days. Files from Google Docs do not count against your 5GB free limit. Interestingly, Google says that an iOS app will be available in a few weeks.
As far as storage goes, you can expand by 20GB for $4 a month, stacking up to an amazing 16 terabytes if you need it (and you can afford $3,200 a month for remote storage). Google is promising 99.9% uptime access, the industry standard. Google Drive will integrate with the usual suspects, including Gmail and Google+. The URL of drive.google.com has been reserved for Google Drive, but it isn’t live yet – going there will only return a 404 page. Were expecting a more formal, worldwide announcement at any time, and given that Google France posted the release in French, we can assume that Europe at least will get access as well. [via TechCrunch]
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| Unlocked Galaxy Nexus on sale in the Google Play Store for $399 Posted: 24 Apr 2012 08:08 AM PDT Here’s a surprise: Google’s suddenly returning to the Nexus One model of direct phone sales via its shiny new Google Play Store. You can go to the Play Store right now and order a brand new Galaxy Nexus (GSM/HSPA+ version) for the impressive price of $399, unlocked and SIM-free. This deal seems to only be working for the United States at the moment – reports from the UK say that they can’t even view the page.
The listing seems to be complete and legitimate, marking the first time that a GSM Galaxy Nexus has been officially on sale in the United States – and what a sale! Previous rumors indicated that Google was looking to start featuring phones and tablets in its own online store, and the Google Play Store is the natural choice for this.The model on sale seems to be identical to the GSM Galaxy Nexus already available in most major worldwide markets, with 16GB of storage and radio bands for both AT&T and T-Mobile’s HSPA+ speeds. Google’s made sure to highlight Google Wallet in the listing, which some carriers have been hesitant to support. Google’s return to retail is portentous to say the least. With rumors flying about an ASUS-made Nexus Tablet, the Google Play Store would seem to be the perfect place for Google to show off its “pure Android” wares. At present the GSM Nexus One is the only physical product on sale, and only in the US for now – the phone should spread to other markets quickly. Here’s hoping that this marks a more direct path for Google’s branded devices in the future. Device Info
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[via AndroidandMe]
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| Samsung details its ICS upgrade plans in the US Posted: 24 Apr 2012 07:27 AM PDT We’ve heard from various carriers and manufacturers on their plans to upgrade existing phones to Android 4.0, but despite the fact that updates for the Galaxy S II have been available for multiple markets (including the US) Samsung has remained curiously quiet. Until today: the company finally posted a comprehensive list of devices that will see Ice Cream Sandwich. All four major US carriers and WiFi tablets have been detailed – with one important exception.
AT&T users will see updates for the Galaxy S II and Galaxy S II Skyrocket (both of which have been leaked already), the Galaxy Note, the Captivate Glide, the Nexus S and the LTE version of the Galaxy Tab 8.9. On Verizon only the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 7.7 will be updated. The Now Network’s Nexus S 4G has already been updated to ICS, but the Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch will also see an upgrade. The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Galaxy Tab 8.9 and Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi editions will also be updated. If you’re a T-Mobile customer you’ve no doubt noticed the omission in the paragraph above. Samsung says that they’re “in close communication with T-Mobile” to assure that ICS update come down the pipe “in the coming months”, but hasn’t detailed which devices will get the upgrade. The Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus seem like obvious candidates, but we hope that the newer Galaxy S Blaze 4G isn’t overlooked. Samsung didn’t give any dates or timeframes for the devices that they confirmed. Of course there’s more to the US wireless industry than the Big Four, but Samsung didn’t seem particularly interested in discussing the smaller regional carriers. Most of these companies have a pretty poor track record concerning Android updates, but it would be nice to get some info, particularly for those who have just released new Samsung products like US Cellular’s Galaxy S Aviator and Galaxy Tab 10.1 LTE variants.
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| ZTE to make two Galaxy Note-style smartphones Posted: 24 Apr 2012 07:00 AM PDT The Galaxy Note has become a surprising hit: the last we heard from Samsung, the 5.3-inch Android smartphone had sold an amazing 5 million units worldwide. This has inspired some competition from the likes of LG (with the Optimus Vu) and Panasonic (with the ELUGA Power), and now it looks like Chinese manufacturer ZTE us joining in the fray. Company representatives told Reuters that they were planning not one but two “phablets” for an unspecified release date.
It’s not hard to see why competitors are flocking to the form factor, which despite our best efforts seems to be stuck with the “phablet” label. Aside from strong sales from Samsung, the larger size allows for bigger batteries and more longevity, and at least some consumers don’t seem deterred by the bigger frames. Lv Qianhao, ZTE’s head of handset strategy, told Reuters that “we want to come up with the next generation of a Galaxy Note-type product, a combo product of handsets and tablets.” If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Samsung must be blushing right now. Aside from the teasing rhetoric, ZTE didn’t reveal any specifics on the upcoming hardware, or indeed why they were planning two models. ZTE is a larger manufacturer than many western Android fans realize, but most of their current sales come from “dumb” phones. The company hopes to sell an impressive 50 million smartphones in 2012. We look forward to seeing the fruits of their labor. [via SlashGear]
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| Samsung UNPACKED 2012 app hits the Google Play Store Posted: 24 Apr 2012 06:27 AM PDT You can’t have a major press event these days without a companion app to go with it – tech journalists are a fickle bunch, and even if we never use it, it’s nice to know it’s there. So it is with Mobile UNPACKED 2012, Samsung’s May 3rd event in London that most notably will host “The Next Galaxy” (Galaxy S III) press announcement. If you’ll be at the event, download it from the Google Play Store to get ready.
The UNPACKED app is your typical conference guide: schedule, maps, parking and transport info, the works. But it’s also going to be of some interest to those not in attendance, because the Google Play Store listing claims that the app will stream the video announcements live for anyone who wishes to see them. We still don’t know if they’ll actually put the Galaxy S III announcement on video, but it’d be worth it to wait and see for any eager Android fan. You also get the teasers already revealed and press releases as they become available. And Speaking of the Galaxy S III, the app’s listing is the first time in months that we’ve seen the phone referred to as such by Samsung itself: “galaxy s3″ is tucked into the description for better search optimization. Unfortunately, it looks like the app itself could have used a little more time in the oven. Users on multiple Android phones, and particularly those using the Galaxy Nexus and other Ice Cream Sandwich devices, are complaining that the app is either completely non-functional or so buggy it’s useless. My own Galaxy Nexus running AOKP build 31 is getting a blank screen. Looks like Samsung isn’t really keen on its customers upgrading to ICS… not until a certain phone comes out, anyway.
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| LG Optimus M+ available now on MetroPCS Posted: 23 Apr 2012 06:07 PM PDT Most of the coverage for Android goes to big, powerful and expensive mega-machines, but entry-level phones need love too. So we’re happy to tell you that LG’s Optimus M+ is now available for MetroPCS customers. The mid-range phone was first spotted last month as an upgrade to the original Optimus M, and it’s available now for $129 without a contract. It won’t wow anyone who’s holding out for, say, the Optimus 4X HD, but it looks like a solid smartphone at a reasonable price.
The Optimus M+ gets an upgraded 3.5-inch screen (up from just 3.2 on the original) and since MetroPCS isn’t saying what the resolution is, we’ll guess 480×320 as in the previous leak. Shutterbugs can get some decent shots with the 5MP camera and included LED flash, though there’s no front-facing camera. Internal storage is limited to just 2.8GB, so it’s a good thing that the phone comes with a MicroSD card slot. The Optimus M+ is running LG’s customized flavor of Gingerbread on an 800mhz processor, and no, you shouldn’t hold out for an Ice Cream Sandwich update any time this decade. And one more thing: MetroPCS’ website claims that the Optimus M+ has a 3200mAh battery – just a little smaller than the gigantic battery in the DROID RAZR MAXX. That’s probably a typo. The phone also has access to Rhapsody Unlimited on MetroPCS’ $60 a month unlimited data. talk and text plan. [via Cnet]
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| Sony Xperia S gets ClockworkMod and CyanogenMod 9 Posted: 23 Apr 2012 05:38 PM PDT
A couple of caveats: neither of these mods are official versions from their creators. They’re modified from the original version in a process called “kanging”. The recovery created by XDA user DoomLoRD (never change, guys) is particularly noteworthy, since it’s got a radically altered user interface. That said, initial feedback on both projects is promising, and all the essential functions of the phone are working in both the “DooMRecovery” and the CyanogenMod 9 port. Check out the crazy customization in the recovery below: The Ice Cream Sandwich port is missing just a few features: HDMI-out, the native FM radio and ANT+ for GPS tracking. Everything else seems to be working well on the GSM Xperia S. The ROM itself needs a few extra steps including flashing a new kernel, so you’ll need to get down and dirty with a PC or Mac command line if you haven’t rooted already. This is all still a work in progress, so if you’re worried about bricking your shiny new Xperia S, you might want to wait for more official versions of CyanogenMod and Clockwork Recovery.
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| Unofficial desktop Google Music Player available for Windows Posted: 23 Apr 2012 05:01 PM PDT Google Music is gaining momentum, and it’s a great way to access your music collection. But one thing it’s missing over the likes of iTunes is a desktop component – after all, plugging in your Android phone to your desktop speakers or going to the Google Music Website isn’t always an ideal solution. Thankfully, DeviantArt user Victor Alberto Gil has created a desktop interface for the service. If you’re a Windows user, you can download and run it now.
The program ties in with the Google Music website, essentially creating a shell for a minimal browser. It’s surprisingly simple and effective – all of the functions from the web are available, including the “now playing” area at the bottom of the window. The app even integrates with Windows 7′s multi-function taskbar, hiding play controls in the preview window for quickly accessing the pause, forward and back buttons. This feature alone makes the stand-along program more useful than the website alone – why doesn’t the Google Music Uploader program do this? Other features include a mini player window, Last.FM scrobbling, song progress in the taskbar and keyboard music controls (which unfortunately didn’t work with my Microsoft keyboard). There’s no plans for a MacOS version at the moment, since Mr. Gil is a Windows-only guy. If you’re a dedicated Google Music user and a PC person to boot, you owe it to yourself to try this one out. The program hasn’t been updated since October, but seems to be working perfectly anyway. [via Reddit]
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| Concept app steals keyboard taps via phone sensors Posted: 23 Apr 2012 04:30 PM PDT Hey, security researchers. We appreciate what you do. But the world of malware is worrisome enough without yo giving the bad guys even more ideas. A graduate student at Pennsylvania State University has upped the creepy factor by creating a concept app that can steal keylogging information by surreptitiously reading information from a smartphone’s various sensors, like the accelerometer. The app is called “Taplogger”, and it’s just a proof of concept. For the moment.
Taplogger disguises itself as a simple memory game, in a manner not uncommon among Android trojans. In the background it records your phone’s movements in three dimensions constantly, waiting for the subtle changes in pitch and yaw that come when a user is inputting a number. It then records the location of a touch on the touchscreen (without ever interfering with a software keyboard or number pad) and “listens” for important personal information, like lockscreen PINs and Social Security numbers. According to the student who created the app, its intended effect is to illustrate the fact that the permissions for motion sensors on smartphones are dangerously unregulated. The lead PhD candidate notes that the same functions are unsecured on both iOS and BlackBerry, making this sort of exploit theoretically simple. The research paper, “TapLogger: Inferring User Inputs On Smartphone Touchscreens Using On-board Motion Sensors“, was co-authored by University of Pennsylvania PhD candidate student Sencun Zhu and Kun Bai, a researcher working for IBM. [via Ars Technica]
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| Yahoo! Sportacular App updated with NFL draft coverage Posted: 23 Apr 2012 04:24 PM PDT Who’s ready for the 2012 NFL Draft? Apparently Yahoo! is because they’ve just updated their Android Sportacular app for the draft. All the Indianapolis Colts fans are probably worried, even though they know who they’ll be picking. The Redskins might win 6 games with RG3, and the Minnesota Vikings need some serious help to protect that rookie QB of theirs. More details below.
The Yahoo! Sportacular app has been one of my favorites for over a year on Android. It doesn’t have the best user interface but in terms of overall sports coverage for NFL, NCAA, NBA, and everything else they truly have it all. I use it more than NFL Mobile from Verizon. Today they’ve updated with full support for the 2012 NFL Draft and you can see their current mock draft, and will be able to follow along live during the Draft later this week. For now all they have is a mock draft but once things get under way and the picks start rolling Thursday in Radio City you’ll be able to follow along, check stats, read information on the players and more all from Yahoo! Sports. You can single it down by team and follow your favorite teams picks too. I’m a Green Bay Packers fan so all we really need is a few linebackers and we are headed for another Super Bowl, so don’t mind me. Head to the Google Play Store and get the latest Yahoo! Sportacular app today for your 2012 NFL Draft coverage. Also don’t forget that you can follow along with commentary and video highlights from NFL Mobile if you’re a Verizon customer. Good luck teams!
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| Posted: 23 Apr 2012 03:48 PM PDT For the majority of Android users who need email access beyond their Gmail account, Android’s built-in mail client performs adequately. It handles POP, IMAP and Exchange accounts without fuss, or any bells and whistles. But if you’re someone who relies on email for your profession (and these days, who doesn’t?) you’ve probably found yourself looking for a few more features, like a search function for Exchange accounts. If that’s you, check out Enhanced Email from developer Quantum Apps.
Enhanced Email features support for POP and IMAP as well as half a dozen other email standards, but Microsoft’s ubiquitous and often cumbersome Exchange is the focus. The app is licensed for Activesync, so it features practically instantaneous push email – a must-have for mobile professionals. Beyond that you get a lightweight interface that could be mistaken for Android’s default Email app, were it not for the breadth of customization options presented.
To tell the truth, the app is a little on the drab side, but considering its utilitarian focus that’s not really a problem. And those who want to shake things up can alter the theme to their liking. Light and dark presets are pre-loaded, but you can alter the color of the text and background on read and unread mail, not to mention the global and message font sizes. Colors for each attached email account can also be customized.
There’s a ton of other settings as well – perhaps not as many as you’ll get in the full desktop version of Outlook, but far more than are available by default, concerning everything from your mobile email signature to where attachments appear in the interface. There’s not much to look at, but if you want absolute control over how your email comes into your phone, gets displayed and goes back out again, Enhanced Email is the app for you. And for those of you who constantly flash new ROMs: all you settings can be backed up and restored for later.
Oh, and search. The one function that is so glaringly absent from the default email client is present, front and center. Just tap the Search button up top and you’re ready to go. I wish it worked with the Search button your phone (or in the case of my Galaxy Nexus, on my ROM) but the fact that it’s there, fast and effective is an absolute godsend. Even when going through hundreds of old emails it brought back results in less than a second.
There’s just one thing I’m not crazy about in Enhanced Email: the interface. It’s all there and it works, but the app looks like it’s running on Froyo and it could definitely use some Ice Cream Sandwich-themed updates to its icons and menus. But that’s a nit-pick – it’s not as if Outlook is very pretty either. It could also use a tablet interface; right now the app just expands from smartphone mode on Honeycomb or later.
Long story short: if you need a flexible, powerful Exchange email client that still manages to run as fast as if it were native, Enhanced Email is worth the price of entry. It’s a steep price – the app goes for $9.99 – but for a function that some of us use every hour of every workday, the Search function and customization options are indispensable. Download it from the Google Play Store.                
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| HTC Amaze 4G Ice Cream Sandwich update leaked Posted: 23 Apr 2012 02:47 PM PDT If you’ve got an HTC Amaze 4G on T-Mobile, it’s your lucky day: the official update to Ice Cream Sandwich has found its way online. There’s been no word from T-Mobile on when to expect an over-the-air upgrade, but adventurous types can download it from this XDA thread right now. The official ROM was posted by XDA user Football, without context or information. Go get it now – Who said Mondays have to suck?
The update is a whopping 486 megabytes, but that’s not so shocking considering that HTC’s official ROMs have been getting more and more huge with additions to basic features and Sense. Speaking of Sense, the version included in this update is 3.6, not 4.0 like the new One series phones. We don’t have an Amaze 4G handy to test, but that’s the way it’s been with the HTC Rezound leak and the Vivid update. Those of you who are rooted and have a stock recovery know what to do – and those of you who aren’t can still join in the fun. Since this is an official ROM (even though it’s been apprehended by less than official sources) you can just load it onto the root of your SD card and apply the update in stock recovery. Check the XDA thread for more precise instructions. There just one bummer: flashing the stock Ice Cream Sandwich ROM loses your root access. But no worries – the XDA folks have already found and supplied a new method. If you’re already rooted, remember to make a Nandroid backup first! Device Info
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[via Android Police]
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| XCom Global Huawei 3G USB Modem Review Posted: 23 Apr 2012 02:32 PM PDT Earlier this year the folks from Huawei were nice enough to offer up some of their USB 3G E176G Dongles with XCom Global data for the team to use while we covered all things Android at Mobile World Congress back during February in Barcelona Spain. If you enjoyed all the news, coverage, and hands-on from the largest mobile event of the year brought to you by us, it was all powered by Huawei’s modem. For those times our phones weren’t capable of a hotspot, XCom Global saved the day, and the event.
We decided that a nice shout out was in order from us here at Android Community. Letting everyone know just how awesome the Huawei USB dongle actually is. While we are at it we wanted to hear all of our readers opinions on mobile data, and wireless hotspots. When you are out and about do you use your Android phone and wireless/wired tether for internet connectivity? Do you pay extra for Verizon hotspot capabilities? Or use a custom ROM to get it free? At times tethering can be unstable and needing a solid connection for an event such as MWC, we repeatedly returned to the XCom Global sticks.
The device is extremely simple to use. Just a quick 5-7 minute setup that is simple enough for almost anyone of any experience to handle is all that’s needed. Plug the device in, click go and you’re ready to rock. One of the most mobile and data heavy events of the year, being Mobile World Congress the Huawei delivered a solid, speedy, and stable connection throughout the event. Along with some impressive upcoming smartphones like the Huawei Ascend D Quad, and this USB Dongle Huawei seems to be upping their efforts in the mobile landscape and I can’t wait to see what they deliver. The USB Dongle is available in Europe today, and hopefully comes to the US soon as I’d love to use one on my day to day. Meanwhile we’ve got XCom Global to thank for the hardcore connections the whole time we were overseas. Thanks guys! So I’ll ask one more time. Do you guys use your Android phones hotspot/tether capabilities often, or when you really need a reliable connection do you prefer a USB 3G Modem or MiFi hotspot?   
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| HTC Sensation getting ICS on Cincinnati Bell Posted: 23 Apr 2012 01:20 PM PDT I have good news for HTC Sensation owners that are on Cincinnati Bell, and more bad news for those with a T-Mobile Sensation. Today Cincinnati Bell and HTC have started the official rollout for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Sense UI 3.6 for the device, and sadly T-Mobile’s is still delayed.
Its been nearly a month since T-Mobile delayed their Sensation update, but this could be a sign things are almost on track and that we can expect the update to rollout shortly. Cincinnati Bell announced the update earlier today via Facebook, stating that it will start today and should hit all phones by April 30th. As usual Bell Sensation users can wait and accept the update, or manually go into settings and check for updates to get started right away. The update will bring you to Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich and should give you tons of enhancements and new features. The update isn’t a requirement, but is highly recommended by us, and HTC of course. Feel free to check for updates now and leave us a comment below should you have any issues. Sorry that you’re still last on the list T-Mobile. Hopefully your update will follow shortly. Device Info
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| Motorola Photon LTE tipped as coming soon Posted: 23 Apr 2012 12:47 PM PDT Late last year Motorola launched their first 4G device on the Now Network in the Motorola Photon 4G. Powered by 4G WiMAX and even rocking a kickstand similar to the popular original EVO. While the phone might not have seen the same success as the EVO, they are apparently preparing a sequel to the phone and will run on their new 4G LTE network.
According to tips received at PocketNow Motorola is working on a follow-up device that will have better specs like a 720p HD display, be super thin, and obviously use the new 4G LTE network. The Now Network has been choosing some terrible names for devices lately and this appears to be no different. We are hearing it will be called the Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE. What the Q stands for is anyone’s guess (possibly quad-core) and really just LTE in the name would be plenty. You can expect a similar form factor to the original Photon 4G, a dual-core processor, the kickstand will most likely be included, and if it turns out like recent Motorola phones it could be super thin like the DROID RAZR. With LG and Samsung releasing 4G LTE phones for the newest LTE network in the US the past week and HTC’s coming soon, we can expect something from Motorola soon but have no additional details at this time. More details on the original can be seen below.
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| Verizon drops Galaxy Nexus price to $199 Posted: 23 Apr 2012 12:05 PM PDT Just as expected, today Verizon wireless has lowered the price on their popular 4G LTE phone and Google’s flagship device the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Originally retailing at $299 with a new contract starting today the phone can be yours for $100 off, just $199 and a new 2-year contract.
The Galaxy Nexus needs no introduction and everyone should be plenty familiar with it by this point, it’s been out for around 4 months already. If not, check out our review and countless posts below on the impressive phone. The discount available starting today brings the Nexus in-line with some of Verizon’s other top sellers like the HTC Rezound — even if it saw its own sale recently too. Verizon has some impressive 4G LTE phones available now, and the Galaxy Nexus was one of the higher priced options before today. Now you’ll have to decide what device is right for you, since they’ve lowered the price. The Galaxy Nexus launched this weekend on the Now Network for $199, so most likely this is also Verizon matching their pricing strategy. You can get it today, right now for $199, or pay the outrageous $649 outright should you choose by heading to VerizonWireless.com Device Info
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Device Connectivity
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Sony’s flagship has been available to international users for a few weeks now, but no Android superphone is complete without a port of the most popular custom ROM out there, CyanogenMod. The 
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