Android and Me |
- T-Mobile ready to revive the G-Series with LG’s G2x [Optimus 2X]
- New information points to March 17th HTC Thunderbolt launch date
- AT&T responds to phantom 4G, “When we turn this feature on you have a world class experience”
- Adobe Flash Player 10.2 is confirmed for March 18th
- A closer look at Verizon’s upcoming onslaught of Android phones
| T-Mobile ready to revive the G-Series with LG’s G2x [Optimus 2X] Posted: 11 Mar 2011 12:42 PM PST If you like Android, I have a strong feeling you are going to love the T-Mobile G2x. Thanks to some leaked documents from last weekend we learned T-Mobile was going to pick up the LG Optimus 2X and release it as the G2x with Google by LG. CTIA Wireless takes place in a couple of weeks on March 22-24, so you can bet that all the carriers will be announcing their new lineup of Android phones. I expect that T-Mobile will announce the G2x and it should go on sale several weeks later. Everyone wants to know if the LG made G2x will stay true to the G-Series of T-Mobile phones, which included the G1 and G2 from HTC. Both of those phones were notable because they were pure Google experience devices and did not include HTC’s custom Sense UI. T-Mobile chose to launch the G2x as the flagship of their G-Series for a reason, so you can drop your worries about it shipping with some iPhoney UI. Some G1 fans were disappointed by the G2 because it was more of an evolutionary step and did not compete with other high-end models, but the G2x will return the G-Series to industry leading performance (yes, it now has 4G). We expect the phone will initially be launched with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and we’ve heard from multiple sources that it should be the first device upgraded to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). LG and T-Mobile are both committed to software updates, so I expect that Gingerbread will come quickly. Dropping a major update a couple of weeks after launch sounds crazy, but it would prove the point that software updates are a priority. Give me your wish list Android blogs never get the same respect as traditional media, but they still play an important role in the Android ecosystem. I always see in our comments that people complain some of the big companies never listen to their voice, but the truth is many industry insiders watch the blogs and this audience has real influence. The G2x hardware and shipping software are probably already complete, but your feedback can help shape future software updates. Our LG Optimus 2X Report Card showed what the hardware is capable of, so let us know what you would like to see on the software side with a comment. If you worked for T-Mobile, how would you launch the G2x?
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| New information points to March 17th HTC Thunderbolt launch date Posted: 11 Mar 2011 12:32 PM PST It's coming! It's not coming. It's coming! It's not coming. We've been playing this game with the HTC Thunderbolt for over a month now, and it's all starting to get a bit old. We've shared nearly a half dozen possible launch dates with you since the Thunderbolt was fist unveiled at CES, but every single date has come and gone and Verizon's first LTE handset is still MIA. If you're looking for another date on your calendar to circle, new information indicates that the HTC Thunderbolt may be launching on March 17th. A leaked email shows a list of Verizon product update and handset launches, though it clearly notes that "Launch Dates Are subject to change." We can't tell you when Verizon is actually planning on launching the Thunderbolt, but with all the ads on TV, in magazines, and the web, you'd think that the Thunderbolt was going to launch tomorrow. With the HTC Thunderbolt launch delays and CTIA right around the corner, how many of you are actually still planning on buying the HTC Thunderbolt?
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| AT&T responds to phantom 4G, “When we turn this feature on you have a world class experience” Posted: 11 Mar 2011 10:00 AM PST After several days of bad press, AT&T has finally issued an official response to the phantom 4G speeds that customers have been complaining about on the new Atrix 4G and Inspire 4G. AT&T customer Keith Geissler filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Texas and he received the following response…
The letter states that AT&T has not “capped” the upload speeds of their phones, even though all Android phones are limited to around 300 kbps uploads. However, it does appear that they admit High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) is disabled on the Atrix 4G (and other devices). AT&T says they are “performing the testing and preparations neccessary” to ensure customers will have a good experience when they “turn this feature on.” We know that most of AT&T’s Android devices support HSUPA, so they should all see a speed boost whenever it is enabled via an over the air software update. Customers with a 3G iPhone are able to achieve much faster mobile broadband speeds than newer 4G phones because AT&T has no control over the iPhone firmware (and Apple has enabled HSUPA). There is no telling when AT&T will “turn on” the faster speeds for their 4G devices, but given their track record with Android software updates it could be a couple of months. I’ve seen a lot of Atrix owners complaining that they want this fixed before their 30-day refund window closes, but it doesn’t look like that will happen. A response from the @ATT Twitter account reads, "If you aren't happy with your device and it's within 30 days of purchase, we'd be happy to let you return it." [Thanks Zack for the tip]
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| Adobe Flash Player 10.2 is confirmed for March 18th Posted: 11 Mar 2011 09:47 AM PST If you are fortunate enough to have a phone with Android 2.2 or above (most of you) or a tablet with Android 3.0.1 or above (few of you) then set your calendar for March 18th as that is the day Adobe has selected to bestow upon you the new Flash Player 10.2 hotness. You Xoomites (Xoomerians?) should be the most excited by this news as you are being delivered from the desert of Flashlessness that some tablets will wander blindly through forever. Just remember to update to the recently released 3.0.1 in order to be ready when the 18th rolls around. Adobe is putting a beta tag on this first release for Honeycomb tablets, but are promising additional updates in short order that will rip that tag off. New features (beyond just enhanced performance) being touted by Adobe for Flash Player 10.2 include:
If you want some additional details you can hit the source link, but if you aren’t particularly worried about how the magic happens then just rest assured that next week Flash will be getting better (or will be added) to your mobile device.
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| A closer look at Verizon’s upcoming onslaught of Android phones Posted: 10 Mar 2011 10:47 PM PST Over the next six months Verizon will unleash one of the most impressive lineup of Android devices we have ever seen. There will be smartphones of all shapes and sizes including several lightning-fast 4G LTE models, a couple of dual-core beasts, devices made for play or work, and several sequels to some of our favorites. Check out the details of eight upcoming Verizon Android phones after the jump. 1. HTC Thunderbolt
Everyone knows about the HTC Thunderbolt by now, which should be Verizon’s first 4G LTE phone. The device has been in testing for awhile as Verizon works out some issues, but it should be launching “by the end of Q2″. Rumored pricing places the Thunderbolt around $249-299 on contract. We are still waiting to learn how Verizon’s tiered 4G data will work on smartphones, but see the Xoom’s data plans for a preview of the pricing. Highlights of the Thunderbolt include:
For more information see the HTC site. 2. LG Revolution
The LG Revolution was another 4G LTE phone unveiled at CES that is slated for a Q2 release. This device is similar to the Thunderbolt in terms of CPU and display, but it has a few notable features like Qi wireless charging and support for voice over LTE (VoLTe). The Revolution recently passed through the FCC and is currently in testing, so there is a small chance it could beat the Thunderbolt to stores (unless HTC has some exclusive deal). Highlights of the LG Revolution include:
For more information see the LG CES 2011 site. 3. Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
The Xperia Play (aka PlayStation phone) was leaked a really long time ago and Sony Ericsson finally announced it at Mobile World Congress. This will be the first device to be PlayStation Certified and have access to the PlayStation Store. Gameloft will release their 10 best selling games for the Xperia Play’s launch and produce 10 more titles within six months. We don’t know when it will hit stores, but it should arrive by summer.
For more information see the Sony Ericsson site. 4. Samsung Stealth
Back at CES Verizon was calling this phone the “Samsung 4G LTE phone”, but it now sounds like they have decided on the name Stealth. This device is similar to the Galaxy S series since it has the same Humingbird CPU, but there are new additions like the Super AMOLED display and support for LTE. Current rumors suggest the Samsung Stealth will fly into Verizon stores by mid-April. Highlights of the Samsung Stealth include:
For more information see the Samsung press release. 5. Casio G’zOne Commando
We have never mentioned Casio’s G’zOne Commando smartphone, but it was on display back at CES. The Commando is a rugged phone that is water resistant and designed for outdoor activities. Casio packed eight useful tools into this phone including an earth compass, walking counter, adventure training, thermometer, tides, sun/moon, and star gazer. Specs are unknown at this point, but it is rumored to have an 800 MHz processor. For more coverage see PhoneScoop and AndroidSpin. 6. HTC Droid Incredible 2
Highlights of the Incredible 2 include:
For more information see the HTC site. 7. Motorola Droid Bionic
The Droid Bionic was announced at CES and is Verizon’s first 4G smartphone with a dual-core CPU. It is similar to the Motorola Atrix 4G, but it gains a larger display while losing 512 MB RAM and the fingerprint scanner. If I was a Verizon customer, this phone would be at the top of my list. The scheduled release date is Q2. Highlights of the Droid Bionic include:
For more information see the Motorola site. 8. Motorola Droid X2
Rounding out the group we have the Motorola Droid X2. We know from leaked pictures of the Droid X2 that it will look almost identical to the original, much the same way the Droid 2 resembled the Droid 1. However on the inside, Motorola has upgraded the specs to include a dual-core Tegra 2 chip. Overall the specs are pretty similar to the Droid Bionic, but the Droid X2 will only operate on Verizon’s 3G network and not support LTE. Expect a summer launch. Rumored specs for the Droid X2 include:
For more on the Droid X2 see our previous post. Which one will you buy?If you are looking for a new Android phone, it’s a good time to be a Verizon customer. Every one of these devices looks to be a quality product (Casio I’m not sure of yet) and Verizon has something that appeals to everyone but the fans of physical QWERTY keyboards. These are all the phones we know about right now, but Verizon is likely to toss in a couple mid-range models from HTC and Motorola. I expect they will also launch the Samsung Galaxy S II and Motorola Droid 3, so Verizon could offer well over a dozen Android devices in the next six months. Which Verizon phone do you want the most?
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