Android Community |
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo returns to the FCC
- HTC Desire S Reviewed by Chris Davies
- LG Optimus 3D goes to the FCC
- HTC Thunderbolt gets rooted with a click
- Samsung’s fake Galaxy Tab interviews scratch heads
- Dell Streak 7 gets AT&T HSPA+ support
- Viewsonic offers free test drive to ViewPad 7 buyers
- Amazon Appstore offers app test drives on your computer
- NTT DoCoMo gives firm launch date for Optimus Pad
- O2 Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play delayed after firmware bugs found
- Nexus S NFC payment system due later in 2011 with Citigroup and MasterCard?
- Google blocking Android 2.x to 3.0 updates for tablets?
- Google Nexus Tablet by LG in pipeline for mid-Summer launch?
- Droid X Gingerbread gets benchmarked
- HTC Flyer appears in T-Mobile ads
- Tango Video Chat Review for HTC ThunderBolt
- Motorola Droid X also gets the Official 2.3.3 Gingerbread leak
- Motorola Droid 2 gets leaked Official 2.3.3 Gingerbread [New]
- Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Hands-On [CTIA 2011]
- HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G Accessories Rundown
| Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo returns to the FCC Posted: 28 Mar 2011 11:14 AM PDT The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo has made a repeat appearance to the FCC in order to test WCDMA bands 2 and 5. These bands are covered by AT&Ts 3G service and could mean that AT&T is looking to bring the Neo to Sony fans in the US soon. The only real difference between the WCDMA version of the Neo and the GSM version is just the bands it broadcasts to. But since that difference is enough to warrant an FCC ID designation, both are listed as FCC ID PY7A3880101 and FCC ID PY7A3880100 respectively.
XPeria Neo fans don’t have to wait until AT&T decides on a release date or price. It’s currently available unlocked for about $530 from independents. It’s always a shock to the sytem to see a hefty price tag upfront for a phone, but in the long run, users will not only pay less, they won’t have to deal with being tied to AT&T if the coverage is suspect in their particular area. But with the FCC testing complete and a usual 180 confidentiality period likely to have started, it should be around summertime that Neo fans can get their subsidized variant. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo’s specs may make it worth the wait for it’s price tag. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 processor, has a 3.7 inches FWVGA touch screen powered by Sony’s mobile Bravia engine, and it can play 3D games. How cool is that? It also has plenty of storage space with an 8GB microSD card expandable to 32GB. The Xperia will also be available in three colors when it comes to AT&T later this Spring – white, blue and red. Very all American.    [via Blog of Mobile, Japan] )
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| HTC Desire S Reviewed by Chris Davies Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:57 AM PDT Our man in England, mister Chris Davies, has let loose his review of the HTC Desire S over on SlashGear. What he’s found is that this 3.7-inch display having, Android 2.3.3 wielding, 5-megapixel camera toting handset isn’t the best of the bunch, but it’s certainly not the worst device he’s ever held. This phone is the sequel to the original HTC Desire, which was undeniably HTC’s answer for the Nexus One – will it hold up to the pressure of the barrage of phones that have been released in only these past few months?
Hardware This is a phone that’s a mere 115 x 59.8 x 11.63 mm, and only 130g. The display again is a 3.7-inch Super LCD with WVGA resolution, this making it the same number of pixels as the original Desire, but with Super LCD instead of AMOLED. The original Desire had an optical trackpad where this one has none, moving toward a touchscreen-only model that many manufacturer are trending at nowadays, perhaps due to the oncoming Honeycomb / Ice Cream world of Android where no physical buttons are necessary.
Volume and USB are along the left, top has a power/lock button and headphone jack. On the back is one of two cameras (the other on the front) as well as a speaker near the top and a removable panel near the bottom with access to your SIM, microSD, and battery. This reminds us of the HTC Inspire 4G which has each of these accessible in two panels instead of just one.
The whole body of the handset is what Chris notes as “a very successful design,” speaking on the matte finnish, discreet chrome bits here and there, and the “HTC chin” which makes it easy to take from and replace this handset in your pocket. Also specifically Chris notes that it feels solid and, with a less-plastic design than the original Desire, it’s “hard not to imagine that this could have been the design for the second Nexus, had Google stuck with HTC as a hardware partner.” A pretty nice compliment!
Inside you’ll find a Qualcomm's single-core 1GHz MSM8255 processor, 768MB of RAM, and 1.1GB of internal storage. Connectivity includes dualband HSPA/WCDMA, quadband GSM/EDGE, WiFi b/g/n, and of course Bluetooth 2.1. There's also GPS, a g-sensor, digital compass, proximity sensor and ambient light sensor. Hands-On Demo Software This handset will be HTC’s first to launch with the Gingerbread version of Android. This release will be Android 2.3.3 with HTC’s newest version of Sense placed on top, ever so slightly newer than the version you’ll find on the HTC Incredible S. The only place you’ll truly be able to SEE the change to this new version of Google’s mobile OS is in the info page where you’ll see the numbers stacked up. HTC Sense will here give you seven homescreens, widgets galore, and several grids of apps in your app folder rather than a free-scrolling list. HTCs usual suite of excellent apps is included, those being Car Panel, Flashlight, FriendStream, HTC Hub, Locations, Peep, and the also simple and totally useful Mirror.
Your pull-down Android status bar is a tiny bit different, this time having a new tab at the bottom of notifications leading you to Quick Settings, that being such things as GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth, and Mobile Network switched on or off, plus a link to your full settings. Chris notes that HTC’s set of utterly invaluable phone options is included in this handset as well, that being the ability to have your phone ringer adjusted based on if its out in the open, in your pocket or purse, or in your hand, and allows you to have the ringer automatically shut off when you flip the phone over.
Chris makes an important point in his review as he notes that there’s no native TV or film streaming and no OnLive gaming service, both of these items set to be included on the HTC Flyer tablet. Chris notes that with only a single-core system, this phone may well be outdated in less than a year. Will a new wave of chip-intensive apps be released in that amount of times, many of them leaving single-cores in the dust? It seems very possible as well as more than likely. Camera While the backside camera of this device, weighing in at 5-megapixels, isn’t the worst camera Chris has ever laid a hand upon, it’s certainly not the best. Comparing it to the Incredible S, Chris notes that shots in the macro were noticeably grainier, shots in the micro much harder to focus on and slightly blurrier in the end. The front-end camera is junk save for simple video chat.
While using the video function on the rear-facing camera, Chris noted that this hardware is definitely alright, but could definitely use some improvements. Whilst turning side-to-side there is a tiny bit of tearing, while touch-to-focusing does work while video recording, there is a certain jerk that pops up each time an adjustment is made. Another odd item is sharing, you not being able to share a photo anywhere unless you’re in gallery mode and you long-press a thumbnail. Weird! Phone and Performance Calls to and from the phone seem to have faired decent when tested by Chris, his only note being that the mic on the phone could be cranked up a bit. As far as benchmarks go, Chris found it odd that even though this phone has the same chipset and RAM as the Incredible S, the Desire S scored a mere 1147 in Quadrant benchmarking while the Incredible S received a 1559. Those not tapping the buttons on both phones at once will more than likely not take a while lot of notice of this situation.
Battery Battery, oh battery. You’ve become such an issue that you need your own section. Chris found that the HTC Desire S ran for an entire day utilizing Gmail, browser, messenger, camera, and calls. With a display that’s relatively small compared to the rest of the HTC line, you’re going to find that you’re surprised that your phone is still on even though you forgot to charge it the night before – what a treat!
Wrap-Up In a world where 4-inch displays are common, where screens even larger than this are becoming the status quo, HTC Desire S is almost a daring move. That and the fact that it’s a single-core phone in a rapidly evolving dual-core landscape makes this phone a mid-range phone where a year ago it would have been top of the line. Because of this, and because it’s not a year-old phone by any stretch of the imagination, you can, like Chris notes in his full review on SlashGear, use the S in the name Desire S to signify “Solid.”                )
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| Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:16 AM PDT Another 3D handset makes it’s way for approval by Uncle Sam. The LG Optimus 3D, which is being tested for GSM as well as T-Mobile’s WCDMA bands, looks to be taking a sure path to coming to the US Market. The bands being tested include GSM bands 850 and 1900, and WCDMA bands 1700 and 1900. But with the AT&T-Mobile merger looming, what fate will it hold for LGs 3D phone?
No word on when the Optimus 3D will be officially available at T-Mobile, or if it will ever come since things will be in flux until the FCC makes a decision on the merger. However, fans of the Optimus 3D can get their hands on and unlocked model through independent cell phone importers. It’ll be GSM and cost a pretty penny (about $700), but if T-Mobile fans are hoping to get one now, rather than wait to see the ultimate fate of AT&T-Mobile or the LG OPtimus 3D’s arrival, it’s doable. The LG Optimus 3D comes with a 4.3″ 3D screen with 480 x 800 resolution. Not exactly HD, but with 3D you usually take a resolution hit. It’s powered by a 1 Ghz dual-core processor and has 8GB internal memory and 4GB RAM. The Optimus 3D has a 5MP camera that’s capable of shooting 1080p full HD or 720p 3D video. All the other standards including HDMI and DLNA support are included. [via Wireless Goodness] )
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| HTC Thunderbolt gets rooted with a click Posted: 28 Mar 2011 09:27 AM PDT The rootability of the HTC Thunderbolt continues to reveal more gems as as XDA Moderator CaptainKrtek, with support from NetForce-TX, has created a one click method which, after testing, is pretty easy to apply. The method is a Windows batch file which runs the user through the complete process and ends with a rooted Thunderbolt ready to play with. CaptainKrtek suggests users still give the thread a good solid read just in case anything goes wrong, but he’s confident that, thanks to NetForce-TX’s testing, that the batch file is sound and works as advertised.
The root batch program requires that the Thunderbolt be running 605.6 or 605.9 firmware and needs to have drivers, SDK, exploits and a few other things installed. All files are available in from links in the main thread and it’s important to remember that users are on their own and it will void your warranty. CaptainKrtek will answer questions on the thread itself, but will not offer to help root personally. So properly warned ye be. So far, the reaction is success across the board, with hopes of a Linux version forthcoming. There’s also a few manual steps that users found like setting the phone into debug mode to mount the ROMS. Should anything go awry, however, CaptainKrtrek suggests unrooting and starting over per this thread. [via XDA Developers] )
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| Samsung’s fake Galaxy Tab interviews scratch heads Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:53 AM PDT The video interviews that Samsung showed during their unveiling of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are leaving bloggers scratching their heads. It seems that the interviews, which depict a real estate CEO, are faked. Harry McCracken thought something was up when he noticed that the interviews show a CEO named Joseph Kolinski raving about his 8.9″ Galaxy Tab. How could he have one when Samsung itself only had non working models at CTIA? But the mystery deepens.
In the video (about 25 min in), the Joe Kolinski featured in the interview is actually a New York Actor of the same name, and not a real estate CEO. But the plot thickens, as a friend of McCracken’s slowed down the video posted on YouTube. He saw a magazine cover that looked a lot like Time Magazine, which McCracken writes for. And when you enlarge the text of the interview of our faux real estate tycoon, who’s name is misspelled, you find the text of a review of the original Samsung Galaxy Tab that McCracken wrote! And it wasn’t even a glowing one at that. So to sum up. Samsung makes a video interview of a fictional real estate tycoon, raving about a tablet that isn’t even functional, and featured in a fake magazine that misspells his name and reviews a real working tablet, only the text is from another magazine that actually exists. Are we up to date now? But since it was a marketing video designed to introduce the new tablets at CTIA and not a real commercial, it really isn’t something to get all worked up about. But it’s certainly strange, to be sure. [via Technologizer] )
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| Dell Streak 7 gets AT&T HSPA+ support Posted: 28 Mar 2011 06:59 AM PDT Dell Streak 7 owners hoping to use their 7-inch tablet on AT&T rather than T-Mobile have discovered the slate supports HSPA+ 4G on both networks. According to StreakSmart, after the T-Mobile USA carrier unlock is removed, the tablet’s modem is revealed to support both 1700/2100MHz (AWS) and 850/1900MHz.
That means HSPA+ on both carriers, as evidenced by the photo above. Unfortunately, right now there’s no free way to unlock the Streak 7; instead you’ll have to turn to an unlock vendor like UnlockStreak, which charges $49 for the hack. It apparently won’t affect your warranty, and should take 1-3 working days to process. )
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| Viewsonic offers free test drive to ViewPad 7 buyers Posted: 28 Mar 2011 04:32 AM PDT There is nothing worse than buyer’s remorse when you get your shiny new gadget. Viewsonic is trying to coax buyers into trying its ViewPad 7 and since it’s not a big name in the tablet world its luring geeks in with an interesting new offer. The offer is a free test drive.
The Try for Free campaign isn't exactly free like you might think. Viewsonic doesn’t hand you a tablet and tell you to go home and use it. You buy the ViewPad 7 at normal price and if in the first 30 days you decide you don't like it you can get all your money back. Viewsonic will even cover the return shipping up to about £10. The company says terms and conditions apply. Presumably, those terms are that the device would have to be in like new condition with no damage. This sounds like an interesting offer for UK gadget fans. )
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| Amazon Appstore offers app test drives on your computer Posted: 28 Mar 2011 03:49 AM PDT Amazon launched its Appstore not too long ago and Apple might not be happy about it, but I think most Android fans are very excited about the new store. Amazon has a really cool feature that it offers to let you play some of the games on the Appstore before you bother downloading them or paying for them.
The feature allows you to test drive some of the apps right on your computer inside a virtual Android smartphone. It appears that you get about 30 minutes of playtime per game before you are cut off. Naturally, the mechanics of the games are different using a faux Android device and your mouse, but you can certainly tell if you like the game play enough to squander you cash on it. Right now, there are about 20 apps on the test drive program. There are all sorts of apps too from games to news apps and more. You can hop over to Amazon and take the apps for a spin right now. )
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| NTT DoCoMo gives firm launch date for Optimus Pad Posted: 28 Mar 2011 03:08 AM PDT Gadget geeks in Japan that are fans of tablets will be able to get their hands on the new LG Optimus Pad tablet very soon. NTT DoCoMo has offered up the official launch date for the tablet within Japan. This is the last key bit of information that we didn't have before, we already know all the specs of the tablet.
The official launch date in Japan is set at Thursday March 31. However, due to the tragic earthquake and tsunami DoCoMo notes that the tablet might not be in all stores on launch day due to shipping delays in infrastructure problems. If you have missed the specs of the tablet before it has an 8.9-inch screen and runs Android 3.0. Inside the machine is a dual-core processor, 3G modem, and lots more. The screen resolution is 1280 x 768 and the tablet has a 5MP rear camera with a 1.2MP front camera for conferencing. We still have no indication from T-Mobile in the US of when the Optimus Pad will land here for geeks to pick up. The tablet went up for pre-order in Japan on March 15. )
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| O2 Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play delayed after firmware bugs found Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:43 AM PDT UK carrier O2 has confirmed that the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play will be delayed, after having “found some bugs in the software that, if they're not fixed, means customers won't have a great experience.” According to Stuart Hibberd, head of O2′s testing team, by the time Sony Ericsson has tweaked the firmware, the gaming smartphone will have missed its previously announced April 1 launch date.
What’s unclear is whether the same bugs will impact other carriers offering the XPERIA Play. O2 doesn’t specify what, exactly, the issues are, but it does claim they’re general flaws in the XPERIA Play’s firmware rather than something to do with a particular build for the O2 network. For more on the XPERIA Play, check out our hands-on from CTIA 2011 last week. [Thanks Toby!] )
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| Nexus S NFC payment system due later in 2011 with Citigroup and MasterCard? Posted: 28 Mar 2011 02:07 AM PDT Google is reportedly working with bank Citigroup and credit/debit card provider MasterCard to launch an Android based payments system using the NFC technology baked into the Nexus S. According to the WSJ‘s sources, Google will release an app later in the year which allows Citigroup customers to swipe their phones on VeriFone-made NFC enabled payment terminals.
The same app may allow for payment history tracking along with coupons and other personalized offers to be pushed. On the flip side, Google – and its retailer partners – would be able to gather greater information on shopping habits, and thus better tailor its advertising. Google would apparently not take a cut of the transaction fees, instead only getting a foot in the door on better quality analytics. The search giant was previously tipped to be readying NFC payment trials in San Francisco and NYC. )
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| Google blocking Android 2.x to 3.0 updates for tablets? Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:21 AM PDT Buried in among the recent talk of a Google Nexus Tablet by LG was an interesting – if concerning for current Android tablet owners – snippet about Google’s licensing agreements for Android OS updates. According to Mobile-Review, using Android 3.0 Honeycomb requires a separate license to using 2.x, with one of the clauses being that a device running 2.x cannot be subsequently updated to 3.0.
If true, that could have significant impact on tablets like the original 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab, which launched running Android 2.x and have not yet been confirmed to be getting an official Honeycomb update. It could also impact the HTC Flyer, which is expected to launch running Gingerbread and then, HTC has previously insisted, be updated to Honeycomb later in the year. According to Eldar Murtazin, though, Google’s licensing limitations will prevent that upgrade, and so the Flyer will in fact launch running Honeycomb in most – but not all – of its versions. Let’s hope the situation gets clarified sooner rather than later, since we can imagine Flyer early-adopters not responding well to the idea that they’d never see a 3.x update to their device. We’re asking HTC for an official comment, and will update when we hear back. Update: HTC’s PR team tells us that, while HTC has no official statement on this, it has no impact on the company’s plans for Flyer. )
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| Google Nexus Tablet by LG in pipeline for mid-Summer launch? Posted: 28 Mar 2011 01:12 AM PDT Google is reportedly working with LG on a new self-branded device, only this time it’s a tablet rather than a smartphone. The “Google Nexus Tablet” (name not confirmed, mind) will run Android 3.0 Honeycomb and, according to Mobile-Review, is expected to launch in mid-summer or early fall.
LG, of course, already has its own Honeycomb tablet, the LG Optimus Pad/T-Mobile G-Slate. However, according to the rumors, Google is looking to prepare a core Android reference design tablet, which would be first to get OS updates in the same manner as the Nexus line of smartphones, and only LG – out of the known, key Android tablet manufacturers – was willing to agree to the search giant’s terms. Apparently the project is already underway, though there’s no word on carrier support or whether Google will look to sell the Nexus Tablet direct. Similarly, specifications are currently unknown. [via Xataka] )
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| Droid X Gingerbread gets benchmarked Posted: 27 Mar 2011 11:12 PM PDT There’s been some benchmarks released of the Droid X running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and the results are fairly impressive. The benchmarks were compaired to the previous Android 2.2 (Froyo) results. The tests feature some testing of heavy duty graphics and motion Fx in a game like atmosphere and it received a score of 1796, about a 700 point increase over the Froyo score. That’s around a 30% increase in performance. It’s amazing what a software update can accomplish.
The test was run using the Quadrant Benchmarks app and it’s a pretty impressive boost considering that the Droid X has a 1 Gz single-core with just 512MB of RAM. And considering the build is vs. 2.3.3 which was leaked last week, we can be fairly certain that the tests were conducted using the ROM. [via Droid Life] )
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| HTC Flyer appears in T-Mobile ads Posted: 27 Mar 2011 10:13 PM PDT Remember last week when we reported that the HTC Flyer would be exclusive to Best Buy? Well that exclusivity isn’t as exclusive as we were led to believe. Kinda. First there was Sprint selling a WiMax version of the Flyer known as the HTC Evo View 4G. And now, according to a few leaked T-Mobile Ads, the Flyer looks to be in the Get More network’s product line and could be coming in the summer.
This is a bit confusing, however, as Best Buy was announcing the Flyer exclusive to them, and coming in April. Then the word was that it would be delayed until May. Now a possibility T-Mobile launches it in the summer? The EVO View 4G is known to be a Flyer but since Sprint runs CDMA, the Flyer gets a CDMA/WiMAX connection, making it’s designation the Evo View 4G. T-Mobile, being GSM, gets the Flyer as is. And it will be sold at T-Mobile stores. So how is Best Buy’s exclusivity … well, exclusive? Inquiring minds want to know.    [via PocketNow] )
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| Tango Video Chat Review for HTC ThunderBolt Posted: 27 Mar 2011 09:16 PM PDT The moment we came into knowledge of Tango being the preferred video chat client of those testing and using the HTC ThunderBolt in the field, we had to take a closer look for ourselves. This is an app that’s free, but even free apps need to be scrutinized to a certain degree because of the amount of time a person has to dedicate to them – understanding that, this app stands up to to tough scrutiny. It’s at once simple and extremely well played, and most importantly: it works.
First Impressions The icon for this application is a big fat white T inside a bright orange rounded-corners square. It’s attractive and professional looking, inviting the user to join in on an already established brand that also just happens to have an application. This is Tango’s most important step. I wont get into the making of thumbnails here, as that’s enough subject to fill out a whole different post, but let’s just say they’re doing it right. The app is free and has a brand presence outside of the app. This is all good news, and the app is free, therefor the download is basically guaranteed. Once you’ve got the app, you’ll notice that it’s auto-populated with contacts of yours that also have the Tango app up and running. This is such good news that upon seeing it, my eyeballs exploded. My partner in crime Vincent from SlashGear was with at the time, so we both fired up the app and took a look at how nice it looked. The account you’re seeing in this post is done from an HTC ThunderBolt and to an HTC ThunderBolt. Both appeared to have run the app without a hitch.
NOTE: The screenshots you see in this post are able to pick up the incoming video, but unable to pick up the outgoing for some reason. The black box in the lower left-hand corner will show (as you can see from the photo above) the video that your chat partner will be seeing of you. In Practice You do not have to have Tango up and running to be able to receive voice and/or video calls. You DO have to have push notifications active however, this accessible to you by going into your device’s settings – notifications – turn global notifications ON – scroll down and tap Tango and turn sounds and alerts ON. Once you’ve got this set up, you’re good to go. You’ll now be able to make voice and/or video calls to everyone you know who also has Tango without using up your carrier plan’s voice or video minutes (if your carrier has such a charge, of course.) This means that your communication via voice and video is now instead only charged to your data plan, which supposing you’ve got infinite of, will result in you possibly having a much cheaper bill each month.
Of course this is all limited by the fact that the people you’re going to communicate with on Tango will also have to have Tango downloaded to their device. If you can make this happen, Tango is probably a pretty good service for you. NOTE that when you open Tango for the first time, if you’re downloading anywhere near the posting of this review, the majority of the people you’ll see on your list are going to more than likely be on iPhone, as the app has been promoted for them more successfully than it has at this point for Android.
Once you’ve got your Tango open, you’ll notice your list (again, auto-populated,) of contacts that have Tango. Once you tap any one of these contacts, a call is initiated. You’ll have to be careful, once you’re on this screen, not to tap the wrong person, as the call is initiated immediately. If we had the opportunity to change one thing about this app, it would be that once you click a contact, you’d then have another click to call and/or video chat. Beyond that, it’s a basic question of how well everything will be connecting. We’ve spoken to a couple of iPhone users who say they tried it out but ended up opting for the more native FaceTime, which makes us wish everyone could just hold hands and agree upon a single app for video chat, or at least cross-connect them all.
Wrap-Up Go download it, it’s free. Download it just to see how many friends of yours are already using it, then test it out to see if they pick up right away – chances are they will, and you’ll suddenly be face to face with someone unsuspecting of a video chat with their best friend Android. [Android Marketplace Direct Link]
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| Motorola Droid X also gets the Official 2.3.3 Gingerbread leak Posted: 27 Mar 2011 08:39 PM PDT What do we have here? I just got done mentioning that the Droid 2 got a 2.3 Gingerbread leak, and before I could finish the story I got word about some other even more exciting news. The Motorola Droid X is getting a very similar, if not the same leak. I’m assuming this will be bigger as more people have the Droid X. It is a sweet phone. Anyways lets skip the fun and get right to it.
This is an official build of Android 2.3.3 for the Motorola Droid X and Droid 2. Leaked by someone from Motorola or Verizon we are assuming. This leak is coming to you from the wonderful guys over at TeamBlackHat. Mydroidworld has both these leaks up right now. Also the file was originally only available for those that have the paid TBH app, but it is now available at the forums and I’ll post all the download mirrors below. So yea, instead of showing you cool things like this Gingerbread “Port” for the Droid X/2, I’ll just get right down to business here again and post all the instructions and download mirrors for the leaked official build of Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread for the Droid X below. Don’t take my word for it, I hear the 2.3.3 MotoBlur is actually really nice and mature feeling. So enjoy it. Installing Firmware: 1. Download this file from the TBH app or one of the mirrors below 1. select install zip from sdcard 5. Restart phone If your phone bootloops you need to enter recovery and wipe data: 1. hold down power and home. Download Mirrors: Note: As we always say, Use extreme caution while flashing or doing anything with your Android phone. You may break, or brick your device if you do not do things correctly or follow ALL the instructions. So as always, use this at your own risk. We or the creators are not responsible for your actions. Other than that, enjoy some Gingerbread on that Droid X [via MyDroidWorld] )
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| Motorola Droid 2 gets leaked Official 2.3.3 Gingerbread [New] Posted: 27 Mar 2011 07:44 PM PDT Exciting, what do we have here. Looks like an official build of Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread for the Motorola Droid 2 has just leaked by our friends TeamBlackHat. Yes I said an official build, as in leaked from an internal source from Verizon. So don’t be to worried, go ahead and check below for all the information.
This little treat comes from mydroidworld. To install the update, you must have the Droid X Bootstrapper by Koush. This comes fresh off the news that we also were about to get an update to Gingerbread for the Droid X but that didn’t happen. So it is good to know they are working hard over at the Motorola labs, and that they are this close. I’ll skip right to it, instructions below. 1. Download this file from the TBH app or download below In Recovery: 1. select install zip from sdcard Re-activate: 1. dial *228 If your phone bootloops you need to wipe data to enter recovery: 1. hold down x and power button 1. press the home button Download Mirrors: Mega Upload Note: As we always say, Use extreme caution while flashing or doing anything with your Android phone, you may break, or brick your device if you do not do things correctly or follow ALL the instructions. So as always, use this at your own risk. We or the creators are not responsible for your actions. Other than that, enjoy some Gingerbread on that Droid 2. [via MyDroidWorld] )
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| Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Hands-On [CTIA 2011] Posted: 27 Mar 2011 07:02 PM PDT We got another opportunity to take a look at the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Android gaming phone whilst at a Verizon event in Orlando during CTIA 2011. It was here that we finally got both an extended look at the device as well as an adequate amount of time to make judgements on its form and content. In the video below you’re going to see a presentation made by a Verizon representative who shows us a top-down look at the device including a demo of several games that we’re very much looking forward to trying out.
First Impressions Instead of saying “first impressions” we really ought to say “recent impressions” as this device has been flying around in the wild for some time, this most recent build being what we’ve been told is going to be the closest we’re going to get to a final setup as possible before launch. This device is both light and hearty, with an above-average brightness in display and form, easy to use in both closed portrait phone mode and open landscape gaming mode. It’s the next best thing to holding an actual PlayStation controller and is crafted so nicely, we might even go so far as to say we like it BETTER than the original.
There’s a magic number “50″ games that will be released at the same time this game is sent out into the world – these 50 games will be available optimized for this platform but will also work with other Android handsets and tablets. This means there’s going to be a GAMING WAVE if you will, of both new games AND games that’ve only otherwise been available for console gaming up until now. We can’t wait!
This is also Sony Ericsson’s first dip into the Android 2.3 system by the name of Gingerbread. We know, due to several accounts of inside minds saying so, that Xperia PLAY was Google’s original “hero” phone for the Gingerbread system – thusly we’re pretty pumped up for an unreal experience as crafted from the ground-up by both Sony Ericsson and Google. Games Clearly this device is made for at least one purpose, that being an undeniably fabulous gaming combination of Google 2.3 Gingerbread, whose code includes API specifically targeted at the physical controls utilized here in this device, and Sony Ericsson’s classic PlayStation set of controls – time tested and proven to be perfect for a plethora of magically fantastic games. In the video here you’re going to see Star Battalion and Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior, both of which are clearly ready to be played by both this device and similar Android devices (which, instead of using the physical controls here, will have to be using on-screen buttons.)
This device comes pre-loaded with several titles that’ll show up in your Game Launcher. What this Game Launcher does is show you which games you’ve got that are optimized for Xperia PLAY – one example of a game that will not be showing up here is Angry Birds, which of course is optimized for a touchscreen-only environment. The games you’ll be getting pre-loaded are thus: Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Bruce Lee: Dragon Warrior, Crash Bandicoot (classic,) an unnamed sports title from EA (more than likely the most current Madden game depending on which one is out when the device launches,) Star Battalion, and Sims 3 – a couple of these titles are already on the Android Market already, but their optimized for Xperia PLAY versions will all come out the same time when the device launches.
Verizon Downloads Right alongside your Game Launcher’s list of games you’ve got that are optimized for Xperia PLAY, you’ve got a “More Games” tab that will lead you to a portal that includes 50 games (at launch) hosted for download by the Verizon Network. Instead of having to go through the Android Marketplace, you’ll be able to download these with the charges going directly onto your Verizon bill. You’ll then see the charges at the end of the month when you pay your Verizon bill. This sort of payment system has been in the works for some time now, this particular move making it more than just a possibility for developers to attain funds from places other than Google’s Android Market – this is in addition to Amazon’s new app market, this making the number of major outlets for app downloads for Android increase far beyond that of the one host. This is a great opportunity for developers to get the best deal they can as far as revenue share.
Xperia PLAY as Gingerbread Hero Phone As we already know having confirmed not once but twice, the Xperia PLAY was once in the running to be Google’s Android 2.3 Gingerbread hero phone. This role was scooped up by the Nexus S as you all know, but Google’s close involvement with this phone resonates even to today where the phone is indeed more than just a phone using Android, it’s an Android phone where the OS and the hardware compliment one another in a perfectly effective way.
Take a peek at the post entitled Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Confirmed as Former Gingerbread Hero Phone for more clues as to the power of this handset. Wrap-Up We’re pretty pumped up about getting this phone in our hands for an extended period of time. Of course being old Tony Hawk fans from way back, we’re rooting for that game in particular to be released as soon as possible, but we’ll settle for a bit of the ol’ Mortal Kombat (also not confirmed, we’re just looking forward to it eventually.) This phone is currently being displayed at special events as Android 2.3.2 Gingerbread, the most advanced built yet, more than likely to be upgraded beyond that for final launch. Will it have a different name by then? Perhaps a different tasty treat with more sugar? That’d be great! Have a look at the gallery below for some detailed photographs and check out the video above for an extended ride through the system.                    )
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| HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G Accessories Rundown Posted: 27 Mar 2011 05:41 PM PDT Whilst taking a hands-on look at the devices Sprint had to offer at their first special event at CTIA 2011, we had a glance at what they’d have in stock for their big launch. The devices in question were the HTC EVO 3D and the HTC EVO View 4G, both of these Android devices and both of them ripe for the casing. The HTC EVO View 4G again is a handheld tablet with a stylus that’s aka the USA version of the HTC Flyer first introduced at Mobile World Congress 2011. The HTC EVO 3D is a 3D capable handset comparable in size to the new HTC ThunderBolt (save for its lack of a kickstand and addition of a camera duo on the back.)
First there’s a few plastic colorful cases for the EVO View 4G, these cases are plastic and the colors shown off here included a lovely green with triangle array pattern and a flat purple. There’s also an odd dark canvas slipcase with HTC embroidered in the same bright green on the side near the top. There’s also a simple back-covering case that’s velvety-purple on the inside and black on the outside that appeared to be quite unique as a case-type protection apparatus in that it provided a kickstand for a tablet-sized device. Normally a tablet is provided a full stand.
Next for the EVO View 4G is a simple dock, mostly black with a white front, made to hold your tablet in portrait mode only while charging up. This stand is shown here without a cord, but it does require one to function.
Finally for the HTC View 4G there’s a lovely zip-up case that’ll contain your tablet on one side inside foam padding with an elastic and mesh hold to keep the device in place while the case is open. Between the tablet side and the left there’s a velvety pad to keep the screen safe while the other side holds earbuds, extra battery, stylus, and more.
On the other end of this case of wonders there was a Car Upgrade Kit that’d fit the EVO 4G – essentially what this means, since basically every HTC phone coming off their assembly line has a similar sized case, is that it also fits the EVO 3D. This is a rather hardcore looking car stand capable of swiveling to hold the handset in any number of directions and ways.
Next there’s a rather simple docking station for the EVO 3D made to hold the device in landscape mode. This dock will connect via the EVO 3D’s new fual-functional micro-USB port that’ll allow for both charging and HDMI output – at the same time? It appears very likely.
Then there’s the HTC Media Link – this is the device we found out about back in September of 2010, a wireless DNLA device that allows you to work with all manner of devices transmitting video and audio to large screen TVs and the like.
An array of gel-type cases are set to be released, each of them with a notable rectangle space for the EVO 3D camera duo. At the moment there appears to be a purple, blue/purple, light blue, black, and pink. Check in the gallery below for additional shots of this case with the phone inside.
There’s a few more slipcases made for the standard HTC phone size, no openings save for the slot to place the phone in the top, bottom, or zipped out of the side – check out that crocodile skin!
Finally we saw what they had marked as the “Griffin Xpo Universal Stand,” a black aluminum case for the EVO 3D with a space for the switches, ports, and camera lenses, with a kickstand to make up for the notable absence of one on the device itself – we’ll leave it to you to decide if they ought to have found a way to include it in the original body or not.
Some of these accessories are released already, the rest will more than likely be out and about some days and weeks before the HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G are live.                    )
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