Friday, April 8, 2011

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Toshiba Tablet Coming Soon to Best Buy, Too

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 03:13 PM PDT

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Earlier today Acer and Best Buy announced a pre-order for the Iconia Tab A500, but it looks like tablet shoppers will have another option shortly as well. A coming soon page has appeared on Best Buy’s site for the elusive Toshiba Tablet. It looks like what seemed to be a placeholder name will stick on this Android 3.0 tablet we first caught a glimpse of at this year’s CES. The spec sheet reads as any other 10.1-inch tablet featuring Honeycomb with an NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, dual cameras, and 1280×800 16:10 display.

No info is revealed regarding a specific price or date for the Toshiba Tablet, but if you were considering the Acer Iconia or a similar device you might want to hold off just a bit. Or at least give Toshiba’s offering the once over.

[via AndroidCentral]

Motorola Droid CommandOne Spotted in Retail Packaging

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:58 PM PDT

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It looks like the Droid lineup is about to expand to accessories as well. More specifically, the Motorola CommandOne Bluetooth headset we first saw at CES way back in January looks to be getting some marketing help with the addition of Droid branding. The compact and sleek headset should make a perfect companion to your Droid handset or other Android phone. No release date is set as of now.

[via Engadget]

Leaked Sears Roadmap Gives April 14th for Droid Charge Launch, Incredible 2 on April 21st

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:20 PM PDT

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We still await official word on the release of a plethora of upcoming Verizon devices, but a newly leaked roadmap from Sears is giving us an updated look at when to expect at least a few. Ignore, for the moment, the fact that we were unaware that Sears was even dealing in cell phones, and observe an April 14th launch date for the Samsung Droid Charge. A week later on April 21st the HTC Droid Incredible 2 is expected, followed with the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play at the end of the month on April 28th. Sounds about right, but given the way these things go we wouldn’t plan your month around it.

[via DroidLife]

FCC Makes Data Roaming Mandatory Much to the Chagrin of AT&T and Verizon

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 01:08 PM PDT

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The FCC vote is in, and by a 3-2 majority has mandated data roaming in favor of smaller, regional carriers. Much like larger carriers like AT&T and Verizon are required to open up their network infrastructure to voice and text roaming, the same is now required for data. Those attempting to surf the web, check email, and whatnot outside of their network now get data access courtesy of the major carriers. At the threat of slowing expansion into smaller markets, the two largest carriers in the US aren’t too happy about the decision. The FCC has defended the mandate, citing the ability for AT&T and Verizon to still negotiate roaming rates and fees.

[via Engadget]

Amazon Offering Motorola Atrix 4G for $49.99 this Weekend [Deals]

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:46 PM PDT

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AT&T assures us sales of their first Tegra 2 device are going along just fine, but just in case you think they could use a little extra help you may want to look into a little deal Amazon is running this weekend. For a mere $49.99 and a signature on a new AT&T contract you can score the the handset currently in 4G limbo. Rest assured, AT&T is planning on enabling support for their full 4G speeds in the very near future, might as well get ahead of the curve and pick up the Atrix now.

[Amazon via Gizmodo]

New Android Lineup Fills Out Verizon Device Manager

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 12:29 PM PDT

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As is usual with devices set to launch on Verizon’s network, entries have appeared in their Device Manager for Big Red’s upcoming Android lineup. Nothing startling or all that new is revealed, but the Motorola DROID BIONIC Samsung Droid Charge, HTC Droid Incredible 2, and Motorola Droid X2 all appear as well as the LG Revolution HTC Merge and Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. Yeah that’s the very HTC Merge we just questioned whether or not we’d ever see on VZW. Looks like it’s more a reality now than ever.

Other points of interest: the Droid X2 once again to appears sans any mention of 4G LTE, the Incredible 2 is a global handset, and all devices will receive have access to Verizon’s VCAST store. All of these handsets are rumored to launch within the next two months, so it should be a pretty big spring for Verizon.

[via DroidLife]

HTC Merge Makes Appearance on Verizon Site, Will it Ever Get a Release?

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 11:47 AM PDT

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In some alternate universe the HTC Merge was release on Verizon last year. Every once in a while flashes of that universe appear in our own. For example, see the above screen capture of the Merge on Verizon’s site tucked away in a section about free text alerts.

OK, so the alternate universe explanation is a bit far-fetched, but it’s the best one I can think of as to why the Merge has existed in launch limbo for so long. The phone has since found a home on Alltel and Cellular South, but is there still hope for it on Verizon? At this point we are more interested in the answer than the handset itself.

[via AndroidCentral]

HTC Thunderbolt Review

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 11:38 AM PDT

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Hello, Phandroids. I’ve had the Thunderbolt in my possession since its release a few weeks ago and I’ve been itching to do a review on it. I didn’t want to cover to much of the technical specs of the phone seeing how you can find those anywhere online (I will add the convenience of posting below). I really wanted to give my own personal view on the time I’ve had with the phone.

The specs aren’t anything to sneeze at. It has a 4.3 inch Super LCD display, Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon processor with an Adreno 205 GPU, 768MB of RAM, and an 8 megapixel back camera with an accompanying VGA webcam on the front.

It also has 8GB of internal storage and a 32GB microSD card, a kickstand (which is always important) and that sweet 4G radio inside to take advantage of Big Red’s 4G LTE network. As far as software goes, this one only ships with Android 2.2 and HTC Sense. (But we expect that to be upgrade sometime in the future.)

All of this comes together to make for a very snappy device, but what good does reading about it do you? Without further ado – Is the HTC Thunderbolt the hottest phone out right now? Or does the phone feel like more of an electric shock? Find out in my review!

 

Who an Oscar Nomination When You Can Grab the Star-Studded Gold Motorola XOOM on eBay Now?

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 11:15 AM PDT

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Remember those exclusive gold Motorola XOOM tablets being handed out as free shwag for the hosts and top nominees at this years Oscars? You don’t even have to be a star to own one now. The gold XOOM and its exclusive leather case are up for auction with a Buy It Now pricing of $1,750.

We’re not exactly sure if the gold deco is worth well over twice the price of the standard version (most complained about having to spend even $600 on the the Honeycomb tablet), but someone out there will surely want one. Now the question is which celebrity once owned this gold XOOM and decided to part ways with it. The auctioneer claims to be sworn to secrecy, but the price might be better justified if it came with the autograph of James Franco or Natalie Portman.

[via eBay, Thanks Austin!]

With 1-Year Contracts Out, Is Verizon Set to Introduce $50 Month-to-Month Unlimited Talk and Text Plan?

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 11:02 AM PDT

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With Verizon set to nix one-year contracts as an option when signing up for or extending service, it looks like the carrier may be exploring a new month-to-month option for customers on pre-paid plans. A freshly leaked document outlines a $50 plan for unlimited talk and text (but not data). Sounds pretty good, right?

As DroidLife points out, toss on a $30 unlimited data plan and for just around $80 you get plenty of incentive for ditching yearly contracts altogether. Except, of course, subsidized device pricing.

[via DroidLife]

HTC to Host Free London Meetup Coinciding with April 12th Press Event

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 10:48 AM PDT

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If you aren’t press but will be around London next week, HTC is hosting a companion event to their invitation-only product unveiling that will be free to the general public. The London Meetup kicks off at 7:30PM local time next Tuesday, April 12th, at the Bloomsbury Ballroom. Food, drink, and fun will be provided.

It is expected that we will see the HTC Pyramid Sensation as the focal point of the private event, but that’s just a rumor for now. A rumor that seems to make a lot of sense.

[via Facebook]

Andy Rubin Promoted to Senior Vice President as Part of Google Reorganization Effort

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 10:23 AM PDT

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As Larry Page takes the reigns from Eric Schmidt as part of a reorganization of company’s top brass, it is clear communication between Google’s key product teams is a key part of the future of Google. As one of his first moves, Page promoted six executives including Android lead Andy Rubin. Rubin, now under the title of senior VP, will now report directly to Page in an effort to streamline Google’s executive structure and provide better company focus moving forward.

The move puts an emphasis on areas that Google will make top priority moving forward, and mobile is obviously at the top of the list. Rubin spoke out earlier this week on the current state of Android, and it is clear his passion for the platform has not faded in the slightest. With upcoming services such as the cloud-based Google Music (also headed up by Rubin), we may have only witnessed a fraction of what the company has in store.

[via WSJ]

Samsung Droid Charge Accessories Show Up In Stores, Phone Any Day Now

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 10:12 AM PDT

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Initial rumors placed the launch of the Samsung Droid Charge on April 7th, and while that date has come and gone, the arrival of accessories in stores today signals that the launch still shouldn’t be too far off. Of note is a multimedia dock for the Charge, seen in the above picture. Of course, this could all mean nothing. Accessories for the HTC Thunderbolt showed up at stores a month before the actual handset, a timing issue caused by a delayed device launch. Hopefully the Charge won’t meet the same fate.

[via DroidLife]

Dungeon Defenders: Second Wave Now Out For Xperia Play

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 09:50 AM PDT

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Trendy Entertainment has released an Xperia Play-specific version of Dungeon Defenders for Android. The title is $9.99 and is the sequel to one of the best games in the Android market to date. Unfortunately, this one’s only for the Xperia Play – those of you without the first ever Playstation-certified device will have to wait until this apparent period of exclusivity ends. If you have one of those newfangled devices then go ahead and check it out on the Android market. [via Droid Gamers]

Further Details About Panasonic’s In-Flight Android-Based Entertainment Package

Posted: 08 Apr 2011 08:56 AM PDT

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Over half a year ago, Panasonic let the world know about their intentions to change how customers stay entertained while flying by introducing an Android-based in-flight entertainment center. Today, we know a bit more about what they’ll be bringing.

The system is called eX3 and will essentially put a full-blown tablet into the back of whoever’s seat you’re sitting behind. News, live television, games, web-browsing, Facebook, and more are said to keep you entertained while flying to your destination.

The hardware is said to be pretty decent, too, with high-resolution capacitive displays and – something that surprised us – 3D-enabled displays. I’m sure I wouldn’t mind having one of these in front of me whenever I next fly, but don’t expect to see this in every airplane you board right away – Panasonic has yet to announce any Airline partners and it’s possible they haven’t even begun shopping it around yet. [via Engadget]
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