Android Community

AT&T shared mobile data plans launch August 23rd
Samsung reintroduces the Galaxy Note 10.1 with a quad-core processor
HTC rumored to launch 5″ phone with 1080p display
Android Community Weekly: August 5th, 2012

AT&T shared mobile data plans launch August 23rd

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 11:02 AM PDT

Today AT&T has shed a little more light and details on their shared mobile data plans for everyone. Announced last month by AT&T, following Verizon’s similar launch, and now today they’ve gave everyone a release date. Users can select to move to shared data plans starting August 23rd from AT&T.

Starting with 1GB of data for $40 a month, you can then select to share that data plan with up to 10 additional devices. Each new device added actually saves you money, but we’d hardly call it cheap. For a full breakdown check out the original announcement post for more details. Unlike Verizon, AT&T will let users keep their unlimited data and grandfathered plans. Well done AT&T. Here’s a quick video they’ve released to help customers understand their options.

Another key difference from their competition is AT&T is not making these shared data plans a requirement — at least not yet. Users can choose to take this route should the like their options, but it isn’t mandatory. Verizon on the other hand is forcing their customers hands, and money into these options instead. Also with AT&T each additional device you add to the plan, actually makes it drop $5 dollars.

If you’d like to get prepared for the optional changes by AT&T they’ve already released a data estimate tool they are calling the Mobile Share Planner Tool. Hit that link to get started with all your options and help deciding what’s right for you and the family. Their mobile shared plans start at $40 a month, and range to over $200 monthly. More details will be coming soon but head down to your nearest AT&T store for full information.

Samsung reintroduces the Galaxy Note 10.1 with a quad-core processor

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 10:32 AM PDT

Samsung has been working hard on their next top-tier flagship Android tablet, and that will be their all new and improved Galaxy Note 10.1 quad-core tablet. After seeing plenty of it earlier this year, and getting hands-on time during Mobile World Congress, they later delayed the launch to upgrade the hardware and today we have the final details.

While we’ve already seen countless leaks of the device. Today Samsung relaunched the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet and confirmed all the specs. Their announcement event is set for August 15th, and the tablet will go on sale later this month worldwide. Here’s the important specs with a full detail sheet in the gallery below.

The Note will feature a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 resolution display as usual, and be paired with the Wacom active digitizer for the accurate S-Pen stylus input. Just as early rumors suggested Samsung has changed out the internals and replaced it with their Exynos 4 Quad 1.4 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16, 32, and 64GB of storage options available. Just like the Galaxy Note it has tons of apps specifically designed for content creation using the S-Pen stylus. Here’s a quick intro video:

Now that is what we call true multitasking. From multiple views on a single screen, re-sizable and movable keyboards and more they’ve really pulled out all the stops here. Samsung announced that initially the Galaxy Note 10.1-inch tablet will be available in WiFi-only and HSPA+ options, with 4G LTE being offered later. Rumors point to a $599 price tag and above, but hopefully it will drop at a lower price come release date. More pictures and details are available in the gallery, with all of our past coverage in the timeline below.

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HTC rumored to launch 5″ phone with 1080p display

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 10:06 AM PDT

With both Samsung and LG already having smartphones with screens large enough to be considered “phablets” it is time for HTC to join them. New reports today from DigiTimes states they are working on just that. A 5-inch smartphone with a competition beating 1080p resolution display and more.

With Samsung getting ready to announce their new Galaxy Note 2 at the end of August, aiming for a September/October launch. Now we are hearing HTC wants to crash their party, and the next iPhone by launching their own impressive 5-inch smartphone. Rumor has it that HTC’s prepared a 5-inch 1920 x 1080p resolution screen. However, it’s being reported at 1794 x 1080 leading us to believe it will feature all on-screen navigation buttons and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Pair a 5-inch screen with a resolution the bests every current smartphone with Qualcomm’s new quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor and you’ll have a real winner here. Hopefully that is what HTC is aiming for. Their tablet market has been lacking, but hopefully this smartphone/tablet hybrid can be a winner.

With huge sales from the original Galaxy Note 5.3-inch phablet both LG and HTC have taken notice. LG launched their own oddly shaped Optimus Vu, and now it appears HTC will be joining the mix here real soon. While DigiTimes isn’t always correct, we could very well be seeing an impressive new HTC smartphone later this year to rival the Note 2 and iPhone 5.

[via SlashGear]

Android Community Weekly: August 5th, 2012

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 04:59 PM PDT

With the first week of August officially under our belt, summer is almost over. Back to school sales will be appearing soon, but for now lets dive into what we saw from the Android news desk this week. So far the summer hasn’t seen a lot of new devices, but later this month Samsung looks to change that with their new Galaxy Note 2.

Yup, we’ll start with the oversized stuff. Samsung announced their Unpacked event for August 29th in Berlin, Germany, at IFA 2012. And then sources dropped the news that we’ll be seeing the new 5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phablet unveiled. Then Samsung also hinted at the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet that we expect to be announced at their August 15th press event. While we’re on the Samsung subject, they started rolling out Android 4.0 ICS to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and their 7.0 Plus tablets.

Electronic Arts announced their new game Real Racing 3, and it looks simply stunning. Motorola also was in the news a few times this week with more leaks. The rumored DROID RAZR HD for Verizon made an appearance, and the international version did too. Google announced the Nexus Q streaming device was being suspended while they improve it, and offered free ones to everyone who pre-ordered. Then in other Google news, they released an official Android Blog, and then probably the biggest thing was Google Wallet. Google now allows all major debit an credit cards to be used in Google Wallet, not just Mastercard and prepaid. This should make a big difference with Wallet’s use in the public sector. I’ve already used mine about 5 times this week.

In other Android news Jelly Bean has multiple user account features that are yet to be enabled. This means one tablet could be used by the entire family. Each sign in would have unique installed apps, settings, bookmarks, wallpapers and more. Just like a PC. We are expecting to see this with a future version of Android probably next year. See it in action right here thanks to some sneaky developers.

There was plenty this week in the world of the Android Community, and we have it all covered. Multiple devices got updates, some to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and Archos teased their new G10 tablet. Lastly OUYA, the Tegra 3 powered Android gaming console had news appear daily. Hit the links below for all the important news and more from this week in Android.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. See you next week!