Android Community |
- Motorola DROID RAZR HD for Verizon leaks
- HTC Rezound Android 4.0 ICS update rolling out now
- Archos G10 tablet set to rival the Transformer Prime in 3 weeks
- Samsung Unpacked IFA invite hints at Galaxy Note 2 – and Magic
- ICS climbs but Gingerbread still dominates Android stats
- Huawei Ascend Q launches at Cricket Wireless
- Google updates Gmail with better 7-inch tablet support
- Motorola RAZR HD images leak
- Google begins shipping Nexus Q pre-orders
- T-Mobile myTouch and myTouch Q Review
- Google launches an Official Android Blog
- Acer Iconia Tab A210 gets a charming new ad
- Motorola ELECTRIFY 2 and Motorola DEFY XT hit US Cellular
| Motorola DROID RAZR HD for Verizon leaks Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:06 AM PDT Motorola’s next big flagship smartphone seems to be in the hands of multiple testers at the moment because the leaks are starting to flood in. Just yesterday we got a look at the international Vodafone RAZR HD, but today the Verizon DROID RAZR HD is making its own appearance thanks to Droid Forums. Check it out after the break.
This is the Verizon Motorola DROID RAZR HD. Complete with Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, on-screen navigation buttons to replace the capacitive ones, and hopefully an unlocked bootloader. We’ve seen a few leaks of it already, including FCC filings that confirm a large 2,350 mAh battery on board. The Kevlar coating for protection on the back matches previous leaks, but looks much different (and better) than the design we saw yesterday. It looks like Motorola is testing a few different designs for their Kevlar protection on their phones. In case you aren’t sold on the Verizon part we clearly see their unique 4G LTE icon on back, not to mention Verizon.US listed in the “system version” on the about me screenshot below. Being the DROID RAZR HD, we know this will come with a 720p HD display. Most likely it will rock the same Colorboost technology in the impressive Motorola Atrix HD, only be 4.5-inches in size. Verizon and Motorola’s DROID RAZR HD is getting closer and closer to a launch date. As soon as we see more or hear anything official we’ll update. So far we like what we see, as long as they keep their promises about the bootloader.   – Thanks Tim and JJ!
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| HTC Rezound Android 4.0 ICS update rolling out now Posted: 02 Aug 2012 10:50 AM PDT It’s finally time for all the HTC Rezound customers to rejoice and enjoy the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Sense UI 3.6 for their device. Today Verizon made the update official and it appears to already be rolling out to users. If you’ve been waiting through all the leaks and delays the official update is now available.
HTC posted news of this update themselves well over a month ago, which turned out to be false as that never happened. We’ve seen a few delays, countless leaks of ICS for the Rezound and more. Verizon has just posted the full update details and instructions as usual at their Rezound support page. Once we see the details from Verizon it usually means the update will coming shortly, but this time around it appears to already be rolling out. The update for the Rezound to Android 4.0 ICS and Sense UI 3.6 is available right this minute, and appears to be about 299MB in size. It might take a minute or two to download, but you should be on your way to the frozen treat in no time. Multiple reports from XDA Developers have confirmed the update is live, and we are getting countless tips that owners have already accepted the update. As usual this is rolling out in stages, so you should see it over the next 24-48 hours. Users can manually go to settings and check for updates if they’d like to pull it down now. Or hit that XDA link above for the manual download. Enjoy that Ice Cream Sandwich, Rezound owners, and let us know if you have any issues.    Device Info
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| Archos G10 tablet set to rival the Transformer Prime in 3 weeks Posted: 02 Aug 2012 10:28 AM PDT Archos took to their Twitter and Facebook pages to let the cat out of the bag regarding their upcoming Android tablet. We’ve seen a few teaser images in the past, but now we are getting the first look at what Archos has been working on. This is their brand new Archos Gen 10 tablet — complete with a keyboard dock and all.
We don’t have any detailed specifications at this time, but hopefully they’ve stepped it up given the recent competition. What we do know is this ultra-thin white tablet will also come with what will hopefully be an optional keyboard dock. Archos is aiming at ASUS and their Transformer series with this one. As you can see from the video below, released back in March, Archos has been working on this latest tablet offering for a while now. Hopefully it will come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but that can’t be confirmed. The tablet looks super sleek and sexy in the latest images, but they don’t have the best reputation for top-tier devices. Last night Archos announced to the world that their new Gen 10 tablet, being called the Archos G10 will be coming soon. Followed by, “See you in 3 weeks for the launch announcement.” Samsung has their own announcement on August 15th, then it looks like Archos will be next on the list. Hopefully whatever they announce along side the new G10 is worth the wait. As long as they’ve improved the build quality some, we expect good things from the G10.   
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| Samsung Unpacked IFA invite hints at Galaxy Note 2 – and Magic Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:51 AM PDT Samsung has a lot prepared for us during the month of August. From the event coming up in a few weeks rumored to be the Galaxy Note 10, to even the Galaxy Note 2. Now in their usual fashion they’ve begun sending out invites for their next big event — Samsung Unpacked. During the annual IFA show this year in Berlin is where Samsung will make their next big announcement.
The invitations going out seem to hint at a few note-worthy things. One being magic, and even a little stylus in the image below, and two being “pushing boundaries.” Pushing a smartphone to the huge size of a 5.5-inch display like the Galaxy Note 2 would certainly be pushing boundaries if you ask us. It looks like Samsung has plenty planned, and we’ll be there live to capture it all. August 15th they have an event scheduled where we’ll probably hear about one of the two upcoming Note-worthy devices, most likely the Note 10. Then we expect the Galaxy Note 2 with its 5.5-inch display, quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and more to be unveiled at their Unpacked event. Samsung has scheduled Unpacked IFA for August 29th, and we’ll be sure to bring you all the news live from Berlin, Germany. Then IFA will have plenty of other news throughout the entire week so be sure and stay tuned right here for hands-on pictures, videos, details and more as the event unfolds. Get ready for some Galaxy Note devices guys!  
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| ICS climbs but Gingerbread still dominates Android stats Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:10 AM PDT Every time we get a new version of Android many Android fans start to wonder what the most popular and commonly used Android flavor is. Google has now released a chart that breaks down the most popular versions of Android all the way back to version 1.5. The figures Google offers are based on Android devices that access the Google Play store within the last two weeks.
According to the access statistics, the most common Android version in use right now is Android 2.3.3 – 2.3.7 Gingerbread. Google’s chart shows 60.3% of all devices accessing the store are running that version of the OS, making Gingerbread the most commonly used Android version. The least commonly used version of Android is 1.5 Cupcake with 0.2% of the distribution. I would like to know why someone would be running a version of Android that old. Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 – 4.0.2 has a meager 0.1% of the install base, but later versions of ICS 4.0.3 – 4.0.4 makes up 15.8% of the Android mix. Right behind the more recent versions of ICS in usage is Android 2.2 Froyo with 15.5% of the OS mix. Interestingly, the Honeycomb tablet OS has meager 0.5% of the Android mix for version 3.1 and only 1.8% of the mix for Honeycomb 3.2. It looks like there aren’t many tablets connecting to the Google Play store in the last few weeks. The latest version of Android is 4.1 Jelly Bean and only 0.8% of the devices that connected within the last few weeks run that version of the operating system. That’s no surprise considering there simply aren’t many Jelly Bean devices out there right now. I would like to know exactly how many individual devices connected to Google Play in the 14 days this chart represents. [via SlashGear]
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| Huawei Ascend Q launches at Cricket Wireless Posted: 02 Aug 2012 02:48 AM PDT Many people are moving away from traditional wireless plans with contracts to contract free carriers like Cricket Wireless. If you’re one of the folks looking for a new smartphones on a no contract carrier, Cricket Wireless has announced the launch of a new Android smartphone on the more basic end of the Android spectrum. The company is now offering the Huawei Ascend Q.
The Ascend Q is an Android 2.3 smartphone that has a 3.2-inch capacitive touch display and a physical keyboard underneath. This phone is aimed at the Android users who like a touchscreen for navigating phone menus and playing games, but want a physical keyboard when it comes to texting and sending e-mails. The smartphone runs a 800 MHz processor and has a 1500 mAh battery. The smartphones has a 3.2 megapixel camera on the back that also records video, and features integrated Wi-Fi with hotspot functionality. The phone supports the Cricket Wireless 3G mobile network and has 4 GB of storage via a microSD card. Apparently, 3 GB of storage capacity is intended for Muve Music. The smartphone is available right now on the wireless network for $139.99. The Ascend Q will operate on the Cricket Wireless unlimited talk, text, and data plan at $55 a month. The phone also supports unlimited talk, text, and data plus music plan at $65 a month.
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| Google updates Gmail with better 7-inch tablet support Posted: 01 Aug 2012 04:32 PM PDT The folks at Google have been on a roll the past few days. Yesterday they announced Google+ video chat Hangouts was coming to Gmail, and now today they’ve issued a quick update to their Android Gmail app. Along with Google Wallet getting a big update and more, they’ve been doing some good things. Today’s update should help Gmail play nicer with the Nexus 7.
Google has just pushed out an update to Gmail for Android that will bring changes to both Android 2.2 devices, as well as those running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and above. Some of those include support and improvement to 7-inch devices — most likely they mean the Nexus 7 here. We aren’t seeing anything right out of the gate that is different, but hopefully it just means tablet support has been improved. Google was very brief with what exactly was in the update, so your guess is as good as ours but here’s the change-log:
“Bug fixes and performance improvements” is all we get here. So we can’t really comment on what has changed although the app does feel buttery smooth here on my Nexus 7 tablet. They’ve also added some new label API’s for older Android 2.2 devices, so users could be seeing a slightly improved look. Google recently snagged the popular mail client Sparrow, but we won’t be seeing changes from the acquisition just yet. Sadly there is still no pinch-to-zoom feature in Gmail, something I’ve been wanting since day one. That and I’d love a stock option to change the theme to black instead of white. Heads to the Google Play Store and get the update today. For more news regarding what Google’s been doing lately check out the timeline below.
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| Posted: 01 Aug 2012 04:13 PM PDT Motorola’s next big flagship phone is rumored to be the RAZR HD. We’ve seen bits and pieces about it from the FCC but today we have the real deal. A lucky XDA user managed to post multiple pictures of Motorola’s latest phone for us all to enjoy. I sure hope that isn’t the final design though, as it has one ugly back.
According to the leaks over at XDA this is an international version of the RAZR HD, so we can’t confirm this will be exactly what Motorola releases on Verizon later this year. The phone appears to be running on Vodafone, has Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, and seems to be on a build from Motorola that is over a month old. Could this be a final shipping device roaming around? Just like the Motorola Atrix HD the new RAZR HD will feature a 1280 x 720p HD display and use on-screen navigation buttons rather than be capacitive like the past. The Atrix HD is a great phone and you can see more from our full review below. The RAZR HD seems very similar in many ways, but we won’t know until we get a better look at it. Previous rumors suggested a 13 megapixel rear camera but today has cleared that up. It will indeed come with an 8 megapixel camera with flash instead. Motorola recently announced they’ll be unlocking all their devices bootloaders, starting with the PHOTON Q. Hopefully the new RAZR HD will have the same fate. Most likely we can expect the above device to land on Verizon as the Motorola DROID RAZR HD later this fall. Who likes what they see? [via Droid-life]
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| Google begins shipping Nexus Q pre-orders Posted: 01 Aug 2012 04:03 PM PDT Yesterday, Google announced that it would be heading back to the drawing board with the Nexus Q. Those who pre-ordered the device aren’t being left out in the cold, however, as Google announced that they will still be receiving the Nexus Q at the very reasonable price of absolutely nothing. Today, Google confirmed to Android Police that it has started shipping out those free pre-orders to customers.
This isn’t the first time Google has handed out free Nexus Qs, as it gave everyone who attended Google I/O a free device. Sadly, the initial feedback about the device wasn’t that great with users complaining that there wasn’t much bang for the buck. That feedback is what led Google to “suspending” the launch of the Nexus Q, and the company says that it will now get to work coming up with new features for the device. The good news is that the Nexus Q will be keeping its unique design, so if you liked the look of this first iteration of the Nexus Q, it shouldn’t be too different when Google brings it back to market. As for what features Google plans to add, that’s up in the air at the moment. Needless to say, we’re pretty excited what Google comes back with. For now, however, those who were lucky enough to secure a pre-order of the device will be getting one for free, while the rest of us have to wait for the Google’s next attempt at a media streaming device to arrive. Maybe the next Nexus Q will come with a decrease in price? One can only hope. Keep an eye on your mailboxes, Nexus Q pre-order customers – it sounds like you’ll be getting your free device shortly! Device Info
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| T-Mobile myTouch and myTouch Q Review Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:37 PM PDT This week we’ve had the opportunity to take a look at the next set of smartphones to arrive for T-Mobile. These are the next generation of myTouch devices over on the Magenta carrier and are made by Huawei. These new budget smartphones are essentially identical, only one comes with a QWERTY hardware keyboard. Check out pics and details in our full review below.
T-Mobile has released multiple myTouch phones in the past and these are no exception to the family. They are mid-range, budget friendly, and won’t be winning any awards other than for their price. The new myTouch devices are rather heavy for their size but are well made, perform great, and will make any first time smartphone buyer plenty happy. Let’s dive in, but first here is our hands-on and unboxing. Hardware    These devices are relatively heavy for their size at 6.52 oz (185 g) (for the Q) and 4.94 oz (140 g). As far as size however they are thin, and have a okay feeling while in the hand based on the curved edges around back. T-Mobile and Huawei have equipped these with 5 megapixel rear cameras with LED flash, and they are capable of 720p video. As well as a VGA front for those self portraits and video chat folks. As usual with most myTouch phones the Android user interface has had a huge overhaul by T-Mobile and Huawei. These aren’t made by HTC but it still feels that way with some of the icons and UI. Overall the hardware is decent and these devices will be great for the mid-range market. We do need to mention the Q’s keyboard. As far as the hardware goes the keyboard is solid. The slide-out is quick, smooth, and stays put. It does have some wobble and looseness to it, but nothing that we haven’t seen from other sliders. These would be awesome phones 2 years ago, but now they are just an entry level device for a low price.
As far as phones capabilities go these phones are great. T-Mobile’s always had very clear call quality so that wasn’t an issue. Speakers were loud and clear, voices were crisp, and speakerphone was ok but did get a little muffled at high levels. Software Without pulling the battery door open you’d never know this was a Huawei smartphone. The only branding is T-Mobile and myTouch, and the UI has hints of HTC inside. It does come pre-loaded with tons of T-Mobile software. One being T-Mobile HD TV although the screen isn’t HD you can watch movies and TV with the app, and Swype keyboard. Just like all myTouch phones you have the Genius button to replace the search key. This uses Nuance voice dictation to get directions, search for a nearby store, or make a call. This is nothing new, just T-Mobile’s own unique implementation. Here’s a look at the software:       Camera
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Wrap-Up Although given the price we’d have to recommend the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G for a better mid-range option. Then of course the Galaxy S III being the top end for those looking to spend a little extra. If you want a massive HD screen and don’t like these budget phones feel free to get the T-Mobile Galaxy Note. If none of those are for you, or you’re on a budget snag these latest myTouch phones up for the family, and enjoy it.                        Device Info
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| Google launches an Official Android Blog Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:15 PM PDT Today Google has just shared the news that they’ve done away with the Google Mobile Blog, and instead will have a dedicated and Official Android Blog instead. The soon to close Google Mobile Blog outed the news this morning confirming the change.
What does this mean? It means Google will now have a dedicated blog for any and all things Android related. Will it be like Android Community and give you all the news you’d ever want. Of course not! What it will do however is keep you up to date with Android and Google related news. News like the new Google Wallet update this afternoon. It looks like the official Android Blog has been chugging along for months now. With details, posts, and videos about the Nexus 7, the Nexus Q, and now the Google Wallet update. Anything special in the world of Android from Google themselves will be easy to find right from the official Android Blog. They recently launched an official @Android twitter page, and then +Android over on Google Plus, so this is just the next logical step we guess. They surely won’t have daily news but if you’re an Android fanatic or developer you’ll want to keep it in your news feed moving forward. I like all these new changes from Google. Keep em coming! [via Official Android Blog]
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| Acer Iconia Tab A210 gets a charming new ad Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:06 PM PDT We’re still being left in the dark as to when Acer is planning to launch its new Iconia Tab A210, but this new advertisement we have posted for you after the jump seems to suggest that Acer is gearing up for launch. We got our first introduction to the Iconia Tab A210′s hardware back in June, and even though it’s quite similar to the Iconia Tab A200, there are a few key differences. One of those differences is the inclusion of a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, which is a significant step up for the A200′s dual-core Tegra 2 CPU.
But the advertisement you see below isn’t concerned with what’s under the hood. Instead, it’s targeting the mainstream consumer by highlighting all of the neat (if not somewhat mundane) things you can do with the A210. For instance, you can use it to check the weather and dress your children accordingly. You can also use it as a “mobile office,” read books on it, take pictures with it, or hand it off to some punk skateboarder so he and his friends can get in some game time. Finally, the video points out that you can keep all of these features secure behind a face lock. Even though the ad may have some common tablet features on display, we have to give credit where credit is due: the ad is rather nice overall. The soothing guitar track and all of the happy A210 users lend to this, and now we just need a release date and we’ll be set. For those of you who may have forgotten, the Iconia Tab A210 comes with a 10-inch display capable of 1280 x 800 resolution, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. It also comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich installed, and runs on a 3260 mAh battery. Overall it sounds like a solid mid-range tablet, but we don’t have a price for it yet either. As stated above, this new ad leads us to believe that Acer is planning to divulge this information soon, so we may not be waiting much longer. Keep an ear to Android Community, as we’ll be passing along release date and pricing information once Acer decides to share it! Device Info
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| Motorola ELECTRIFY 2 and Motorola DEFY XT hit US Cellular Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:06 PM PDT Today Motorola and US Cellular have announced a pair of new Android smartphones to grace the regional carriers lineup. The star of the show here is the ELECTRIFY 2 and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich but we have all the details below. Both phones are available starting tomorrow too.
What you see above are the two brand new phones that will be headed to US Cellular. The ELECTRIFY 2 being the more important of the two with a 4.3-inch screen, 8 megapixel rear camera, 1.3 front shooter, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and of course Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Just like the Atrix HD it sports those on-screen navigation buttons and looks wonderful. We reviewed the original ELECTRIFY and you can see that below. The new model has similarities to the RAZR, and will be available tomorrow for $179 with a $100 mail in rebate. Next up is the smaller of the two (on the right) and is the DEFY XT. This little phone is actually quite rugged and should handle just about any situation. It features Android 2.3 Gingerbread and a smaller screen but will also cost less. It comes with a 3.7-inch display, 5 megapixel camera and will run you $99 on contract after the same $100 mail in rebate. The video above shows the ELECTRIFY 2 and Android 4.0 ICS in action on these brand new phones from the folks at Motorola. We’ve seen these devices in the past but now they are available stateside for those using US Cellular. What do you think about these phones? They might not be the Galaxy S III but are still rather great options for USCC. [via Motorola]
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