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AT&T taps $50 Pantech Flex for September 16

Scott Webster
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AT&T today announced that the Pantech Flex will join the carrier’s Android roster starting on Septmber 16.  Priced at only $49.99 with a two-year service agreement, the smartphone runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and features pretty impressive specs.

Details for the Pantech Flex include a 4.3-inch qHD (960×540) Super AMOLED display, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 8-megapixel camera (rear), 2-megapixel camera (front), and 4G LTE connectivity. Like other Pantech models over the last year, it’s a solid-spec device at a very attractive price.

Aimed squarely at first time smartphone buyers, the handset comes with ‘Easy Experience’, a mode which prioritizes the user’s apps and holds their hand a bit.  Already know a thing or two about a thing or two?  Switch over to the traditional mode and get going!

NEW PANTECH FLEX FROM AT&T PROVIDES ADDED CHOICE FOR SIMPLICITY SEEKERS

First 4G LTE Smartphone to Feature “Easy Experience” Mode Runs Android 4.0

DALLAS, Sept. 4, 2012 – The first smartphone at AT&T to offer customers the option to choose between the traditional Android operating mode and a more simplified version ideal for new smartphone users, the Pantech Flex will be available exclusively from AT&T* online and in company-owned retail stores for $49.99 with a two-year agreement, beginning Sept. 16.

The Pantech Flex offers a unique dual experience system that runs on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The standard Android format is available for the customer who wants instant access to a wide range of their favorite features – social media sites, email, video and more. In addition, Flex provides the “Easy Experience” mode which prioritizes customers’ apps on the home screen in a clearly organized and easy-to-read format. Easy Experience users can enjoy an intuitive experience without sacrificing any the latest in smartphone technology. By switching simply between traditional and easy modes, depending on preferences, Flex is a very customizable device.

In addition to its dual operating systems, Flex weighs only 4.6 ounces and has a slim design that makes it easy to slip into a pocket or purse. Flex features a full touch 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display for a vibrant picture and a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. The intelligent Pantech SwiftKey technology makes typing a breeze by minimizing key strokes by learning a user’s natural language for more accurate word predictions and corrections. Flex also features an eight-megapixel rear facing camera with 1080p HD video recording capabilities and a two-megapixel front facing camera.

“The Pantech Flex is a great phone because of its versatility,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices and Developer Services, AT&T Mobility. “This phone simplifies the smartphone experience and allows someone who has been hesitant to buy a smartphone a chance to get familiar with it at their own pace, and still leaves open the possibility of having the more traditional experience.”

“Flex is a smartphone that’s truly for everybody,” remarked Wyatt Whaley, vice president of product planning at Pantech. “With the option to alternate between the traditional Android interface and Pantech’s proprietary Easy Experience , Flex is ideal for users of all ages looking for an intuitive and flexible mobile experience.”

For more information, visit http://www.att.com/aboutus

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about Flex can be found at, http://www.pantechusa.com.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T ¦DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.

About Pantech Wireless, Inc.

Pantech Wireless, Inc., an Atlanta, GA based subsidiary of Pantech Co., Ltd., researches, markets and develops wireless handsets, tablets and telecommunications products throughout North America as part of the Pantech Group. Pantech is the title sponsor and the wireless device partner of the 2012 Dew Tour. For additional information about Pantech devices and the company’s Dew Tour partnership, visit the PWI website at http://www.PantechUSA.com.

© 2012 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Verizon intros Samsung Galaxy Stellar

Scott Webster
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0

Verizon Wireless today announced the Samsung Galaxy Stellar, a mid-range Android with an entry-level price.  Available in stores and online starting September 6, the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich handset will cost zero dollar after $50 mail-in rebate and two-year service agreements. EDITOR NOTE: Price updated to reflect accurate cost.

Specifications are no surprise and include a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, a 3.2-megapixel camera (rear), 1.3-megapixel camera (front), microSD expansion, and support for Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and 4G LTE.

In terms of software, the Galaxy Stellar features a Starter Mode for new Android users, a handful of Amazon apps (Kindle, Shopping, MP3), and IMDB.  Of course there’s also the standard fare of Google apps, including the Google Play store.

VERIZON WIRELESS LAUNCHES FEATURE-PACKED SAMSUNG GALAXY STELLAR™ SMARTPHONE 

Features 4G LTE Connectivity, Dual Interface Options and B2B Enterprise Solutions 

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and DALLAS – Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announced today that they will offer the exclusive Samsung Galaxy Stellar™ starting Sept. 6 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com.

The easy-to-use 4G LTE enabled Samsung Galaxy Stellar is designed to be compact so it fits easily in a customer’s hand and make the first time smartphone experience simple.  Built with a compact design, the Stellar features a dual interface option so customers can choose between Starter Mode or Standard Mode.  Starter Mode gives customers a simplified home screen display with preset widgets such as Favorite Apps, Favorite Contacts and Favorite Settings for quick and easy access to frequently used apps and settings.  Starter Mode also features a quick dialer icon that allows customers to make phone calls directly from the home screen.  Standard Mode provides customers with a more conventional layout and gives customers the traditional Android™ experience.  The Stellar also includes a Help app that features guided tours, walkthroughs, tips for changing settings and more, so customers can master their device.

Samsung Galaxy Stellar customers can take advantage of blazingly fast 4G LTE connectivity to access an array of convenient and multimedia rich apps. A suite of Amazon apps is included that offers customers an easy way to discover content such as watching movie trailers on the IMDB app, downloading audio books with the Audible app, and one-click ordering with the Amazon shopping app. The Stellar also offers a variety of premium TV and film content for rent or purchase through the Samsung Media Hub.

The Galaxy Stellar is a SAFE™ (Samsung Approved For Enterprise) approved device featuring on-device AES-256 bit encryption, enhanced support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®  and support for industry-leading Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to make working on-the-go secure.

Additional features:

  • 4G LTE – customers can expect fast download speeds of  5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage areas
  • 4-inch WVGA display (800 x 480 )
  •  Suite of Amazon apps includes Kindle, Shopping, MP3, Zappos, IMDB and Audible
  • 1.2 dual-core GHz Snapdragon™ application processor
  • Wi-Fi® Connectivity (802.11 a/b/g/n)
  • microSD™ card slot with support for up to 32 GB
  • Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich – support for Google Mobile™ Services including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Maps™ and access to more than 600,000 apps available to download from Google™ Play Store
  • Front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat and 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera with auto focus
  • Backup Assistant Plus – media management and online storage service designed to help customers store and access media content such as music, videos, pictures documents and contacts.

Business features:

Samsung’s SAFE enterprise mobility solutions provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate     more efficiently while on–the-move.

  • Microsoft® Exchange ActiveSync® (EAS) – Communicate directly with your Microsoft Exchange Server enabling push email, calendar, and contacts
  • Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) Support from Industry-Leading Solutions Providers – Supports industry-standard VPN protocols to help users efficiently tap into VPN networks and MDM capabilities that allow IT departments to effectively safeguard employee’s mobile devices and corporate data.
  • On Device Encryption – SAFE helps prevent unauthorized access to mobile data by leveraging the AES 256-bit encryption standard, encrypting all data, including app-specific internal data and internal/external memory.

Price and availability:

  • The Samsung Stellar will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Sept. 6 for free after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement.  Customers receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
  • For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Verizon announces LG Intuition for Sept 6

Scott Webster
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Verizon today announced that they will be offering the LG Intuition as part of their Android lineup starting September 6.  Known in other parts of the world as the Optimus Vu, the smartphone runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and features a 5-inch 650 NIT (4:3) display, a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB RAM, and an 8-megapixel camera.  Additional specs include 4G LTE support, NFC, an 8-megapixel camera (rear), 1.3-megapixel camera (front), Bluetooth, DLNA, and a host of other standard Android features.

In terms of software, the LG Intuition will feature Amazon Kindle, Amazon Shopping, Amazon MP3, Zappos, IMDB, Audible, Polaris Office, and more.  LG has also added their little touches to the device, including QuickMemo which allows for drawing or writing using the digital Rubberdium pen.

Pricing for the handset will be $199.99 with two-year service agreements.  The Intuition by LG will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Sept. 6 and will be in Verizon stores beginning Sept. 10.

4G LTE Connectivity and a Tablet-Like Experience on Vivid 5-Inch True HD Display

BASKING RIDGE and ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and LG Electronics USA today announced the Intuition by LG, a next-generation device that offers the full functionality of a smartphone and a tablet all in one slim, pocket friendly device.  The Intuition by LG, exclusively for Verizon Wireless, will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Sept. 6 and will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning Sept. 10 for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.  The Intuition’s innovative design and features let customers record their most creative ideas while also staying productive, all in one device. Customers will also have access to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, which covers more than 75 percent of the U.S. population and will soon be available in more than 400 markets nationwide.

LG’s 5-inch display with high-definition detail gives customers a premium viewing experience with exceptionally sharp detail, and the 4:3 aspect ratio makes it ideal for reading e-books, watching videos, Web browsing and reviewing presentations.  The Intuition features the Polaris® Office app, allowing customers to view, create, edit and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations right on the Intuition’s large display and can even organize files by category or folder.

The QuickMemo™ app can be used with a single press of a button and allows customers to draw or write messages with the included Rubberdium™ pen or with their finger on just about any screen. Add a personalized handwritten note to pictures, maps, websites and easily share with friends through text messages, social media, email and more.  Customers can even pick different colors and pen types to help further customize their notes.

The Intuition also features the LG Tag+ app and two reprogrammable NFC (Near Field Communications) stickers that can be used to create and switch between different phone modes with a single tap.  For example, the stickers can be posted onto an office door or bedroom nightstand and customers simply tap the NFC sticker with their phone to activate a mode and tap it again to return to their original settings.  The different modes are customizable and include Car Mode, Office Mode, Sleep Mode and User Mode.  Settings like Bluetooth®, GPS, Wi-Fi and more can be turned on or off by tapping the back of the Intuition on an LG Tag+ sticker.

Additional Features:

  • 5-inch display with high-definition detail
  • 4:3 aspect ratio to fully use the screen size and eliminate dead space
  • 650 NIT display provides excellent legibility and sharp details even in direct sunlight
  • The Notebook app turns the Intuition into a virtual notepad for creating documents which, can include text, drawings, images, annotations, video and voice clips
  • Business ready with enterprise grade security, corporate data encryption with Data-at-Rest Encryption (DARE), secure multi-headed VPN for corporate network connections, remote wipe capability and more
  • Suite of Amazon apps includes Kindle, Shopping, MP3, Zappos, IMDB and Audible so customers can watch movie trailers, download audio books, shopping and more
  • 8-megapixel camera with LED flash and 1080p HD video recording
  • 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chatting
  • Enhanced camera features include voice commands to take a picture, continuous shot to take 6 shots with one tap and panorama shot to merge horizontal shots.
  • Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB RAM
  • Mobile Hotspot – Share a 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
  • Bluetooth® Version 3.0 + HS
  • SmartShare – Share media wirelessly to DLNA®-enabled devices

Pricing and Availability:

  • Intuition by LG will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Sept. 6 and will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores starting Sept. 10 for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
  • As an online only promotion, customers who purchase Intuition by LG at www.verizonwireless.com between Sept. 6 and Sept. 10 will also receive a LG Tone Stereo Bluetooth®headset at no additional cost
  • Customers purchasing the Intuition by LG will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless data plan.  Share Everything Plans allow customers to add Intuition by LG to their account for $40 monthly access.  For additional information, customers should go to www.verizonwireless.com/shareeverything
  • For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Samsung Galaxy Note II officially debuts

Scott Webster
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Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Note II has gone from rumored to official as the handset/tablet is announced at IFA.  Specifications for the device are exactly what we’ve been expecting these last few weeks and should put the Note II firmly in the running for top Android of 2012.

Powered by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the Galaxy Note features a 5.5-inch 1280 x 720 Super AMOLED screen, a quad-core 1.6GHz processor, 2GB RAM, an 8-megapixel rear camera, front-facing 1.9-megapixel camera, and a 3100mAh battery.  Consumers will have choice of storage capacities (16GB, 32GB, or 64GB) and a pair of colors to pick from in Mountain White and Titanium Grey.

[nggallery id=11]

Getting beyond just the specs, the Galaxy Note II features some new and improved functionality.  The S Pen gets a new, thicker and longer design which is said to be more ergonomic.   Samsung has included a feature called “Air View” which lets users hover the S Pen over images, emails, and other items to preview things without having to completely open them up.

Much like Popup Play on the Galaxy S III, the Galaxy Note features a “Popup Notes” which lets users put a note over the screen, atop other apps.  There’s also a “Quick Command” option that reveals a menu of quick commands for sending contacts email, calls, searching, and more.  Wrapping things up, there’s a Screen Recorder that lets the user record things as they happen on the screen and share with others.

Pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Note II  is unknown at this point, however we’re sure it will leak once we get closer to carrier announcements and deployment. As far as availability for the Galaxy Note II, the device ships to Europe in October, however we don’t know just yet if/when a U.S. carrier will announce support.

In fact, here’s what Samsung has to say in regards to a U.S model.

[pullquote3 quotes=”true” align=”center” textColor=”#000000″ cite=”Samsung”]“Samsung Mobile is planning a U.S. version of Galaxy Note II, which will be available later in 2012. Building on the success of the original Galaxy Note, we’re confident that the Galaxy Note II continues to redefine what consumers should expect from their smartphone and delivers a powerful, innovative and unique experience. Exact timing and retail channel availability is not being announced at this time, we will continue to share information as it becomes available”[/pullquote3]

 

LG announces a quad-core LTE beast with Optimus G

AndroidGuys
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LG today announced their newest super phone the LG Optimus G.  Packing some amazing specs, the word super phone is not a stretch.  Details include a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with LTE capabilities, a 4.7-inch 1280×768 True HD Screen, and 2GB RAM.  Powered by Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Optimus G also boasts a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front facing shooter.  Tons of power packed into a slim 8.45mm thick unibody design.

Let us know what you think about the LG Optimus G in the comments below!

LG UNVEILS WORLD’S FIRST LTE SMARTPHONE WITH SNAPDRAGON QUAD-CORE
Newest Premium Device from LG Sets High Benchmark for Performance and Usability

SEOUL, August, 28, 2012 – LG Electronics (LG) revealed its newest premium mobile device with the announcement of the Optimus G, a high-end smartphone that offers powerful performance, an elegant and sleek design, and an innovative user experience. As the first LTE device featuring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon™ S4 Pro Quad-Core processor, Optimus G will set the foundation for every future premium smartphone from LG.

Best-of-Best Technologies
To offer the best smartphone to consumers, LG gathered industry-leading partners and technologies to develop the Optimus G. In collaboration with Qualcomm, LG developed the Optimus G with the goal to be the first LTE smartphone with the Snapdragon™ S4 Pro CPU. LG also joined hands with vertically-integrated sister companies LG Chem, LG Display and LG Innotek for the ultimate battery capacity, viewing and user experience.

Next Generation Quad-Core with LTE
The Optimus G will be the first commercial and global smartphone to offer the Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064) processor with a Quad-Core Krait CPU, LTE supported capabilities, and the newest generation Adreno™ 320 GPU. The Snapdragon S4 Pro runs at 1.5GHz and features Asynchronous Symmetric Multiprocessing (aSMP), which enables each core to power up and down independently, for maximum performance with better battery life. Furthermore, the Adreno 320 is over three times faster than the Adreno 225 found in previous Snapdragon processors for an enhanced gaming experience with faster frame rates, smoother play and support for higher HD resolution displays.

Cutting-edge Display and Outstanding Battery Efficiency
With help from LG Display, the Optimus G sports a beautiful 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS+ Display with 320ppi high pixel density (1280×768 pixels) and Stripe RGB IPS Panel with 15:9 aspect ratio. LG Display pushed the boundaries of its technology to offer True HD IPS+ Display, which is sharper and crisper with color accuracy of sRGB 100 percent to show natural and life-like images.

Moreover, the Optimus G will be the first smartphone to be equipped with LG Innotek and LG Display’s newly developed G2 Touch Hybrid Display for touchscreen panels (TSP). The G2 Touch Hybrid Display is thinner than current TSPs and offers the slimmest panel display with no diffused reflection for clearer and sharper visibility, even outdoors. Thanks to the new technology, the thickness of the screen panel has been reduced and the screen itself is much stronger to withstand damage from impact.

Lastly, LG Chem developed a high-density 2,100mAh battery that provides more power capacity and prolonged charging cycles. The new battery technology extended the battery lifespan to 800 cycles at 80 percent charging capabilities, much greater than the lifespan of 500 cycles in regular phone batteries.

Enhanced UX for Productivity and Entertainment
Whether users need functionality or fun in their daily lives, the Optimus G has it all, including a high-resolution 13.0MP camera and unique and differentiated user experience (UX) features, such as:

 Live Zooming allows zooming in and out while viewing a video;
 Dual Screen Dual Play, not only allows mirroring between the smartphone and a TV, it also has the ability to display different content on each screen. For example, a slide presentation can be displayed on the TV while the Optimus G shows the accompanying speaking notes;
 QMemoTM, first seen in the Optimus Vu:, allows users to write, draw, or jot a memo directly on the captured screen with their finger for sharing instantly with others as an attachment or a URL;
 Time Catch Shot allows users to select and save the best shot among the images taken just before the shutter button is depressed;
 Cheese Shutter takes a photo when a voice command is spoken.

The added UX features are anticipated to provide instant and intuitive productivity to complete tasks beyond simple multitasking.

Innovative and Modern Look
LG maintained its differentiated design philosophy with the Optimus G. The Optimus G is encased in an eye-catching slim body epitomizing timeless beauty that perfectly demonstrates LG’s design philosophy. Premium glass is utilzied on the back cover with a polarized glass pattern that offers a clean, modern look. The G2 Touch Hybrid Display contributed significantly to the design of the Optimus G as it reduced the thickness of the device enabling Optimus G to fit more comfortably in the hand. And the jet black front display flows smoothly into the body for a seamless look with no gaps.

“We are confident that users will have a superior experience with everything that we’re offering in the Optimus G,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Optimus G isn’t just another high-performance phone with the latest bells and whistles. It’s a collaboration of some of the best component makers on the planet coming together for a singular cause, to develop a smartphone that stands out in a sea of me-too devices.”

NTT DOCOMO will be the first to unveil a Japanese edition of the Optimus G. The global version of the device will be launched in Korea in September, followed by other markets worldwide.

Key Specifications:

  • Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro Processor with 1.5GHz Quad-Core CPU, Adreno 320 GPU with 4G LTE
  • Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Network: 2G / 3G / 4G LTE
  • Display: 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS+ (1280×768 pixels) / 15:9 ratio
  • Memory: 32GB
  • RAM: 2GB DDR
  • Cameras: 13.0MP rear / 1.3MP front
  • Battery: 2,100 mAh
  • Size: 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.45mm
  • Weight: 145g
  • Other: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, USB2.0 HS, A-GPS, MHL, DLNA, NFC

Review: Motorola Atrix HD

AndroidGuys
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Motorola is rarely a slouch when it comes to mobile devices. Whether it’s phones or Bluetooths, they typically try to innovate and think outside the box a little, even if those gambles don’t always succeed. The big M (now officially part of the big G) was gracious enough to ship us a review unit of the Motorola Atrix HD, a new handset on AT&T’s network with a good price at $99 on contract, some nifty features, and some nice specs:

  • 4.5″ HD (720 x 1080) Gorilla Glass screen with ColorBoost
  • 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960
  • 1 GB RAM/8 GB ROM/internal memory with a 32 GB supporting microSD slot
  • 1780 mAh battery
  • 8 MP main camera/1.3 MP front
  • LTE

How does it stand up against other offerings? Read on to find out!

Hardware

The Atrix HD feels excellent in hand. It strikes the perfect balance between solidity and lightness, while the Kevlar backing and sticky stripe around the sides offer a great feeling of grip. The microSD and SIM slots are stored away behind a plastic flap near the bottom of the left side that does a decent job of blending into the body. The particular pearl white color model that Motorola sent us looks awesome, with the dark grey of the Kevlar and side-stripping contrasting beautifully with the white. The speaker is also plenty loud and clear, for ringers, music, and speakerphone. Motorola also put a coating on the exterior and interior of the device that, according to Motorola,

If there was an oddity, it was the positioning of the volume and power keys all on the right hand side. [pullquote3 quotes=”true” align=”right” variation=”red” textColor=”#bf1b29″]The pearl white color looks awesome, with the dark grey of the Kevlar and side-stripping contrasting beautifully with the white.[/pullquote3]
This is great for a left-handed person, as they’d have easy access to multiple buttons with multiple fingers, making controls and screenshots easier. A right handed person would have to use their singular, lonely thumb. Either doing it Samsung style (with the power on the right and the volume on the left) or like everyone else (with the power on top) seem like better choices. Not a showstopper by any stretch, but a definite odd choice in design.

Screen

Moving onto the screen, I’ll just say it’s gorgeous and the touchscreen is quite responsive. Colors pop very well and there’s plenty of detail. Pictures and video both looked fantastic, with pixelation being absolutely zero. The only downside is that it was almost impossible to see in direct sunlight even at the highest brightness setting, which is a definite bummer if you plan on using your phone outdoors at all.

Camera

I’ll start the camera portion on a positive note: I was impressed with how clear the front camera was. It handles tricky lighting situations well and without the grainy textures you get from many front-facers. It’ll be great for those that video chat on a consistent basis or like to take vanity shots.

     

The main camera, by comparison was…unimpressive. In pictures, shadows stayed dark, shadowey and ambiguous, while whites were overbearingly bright, washing out all of the nearby colors, particularly in less than ideal lighting situations. And “less than ideal” covers quite a bit on the Atrix HD camera. Really, the only place where the camera fares well is outdoors in the light. Indoors, or even in the shade outdoors, the camera just doesn’t deliver. Video recorded smoothly, but with the same lighting and color issues as still shots. It’s possible that it’s simply software that isn’t optimizing pictures properly, and if they fix it later with an update, fantastic. For now though, that’s not the case. If you’re a big photo bug, I’d recommend a different choice in device with a better shooter.

Software

Motorola has shipped the device with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on board, the norm these days, with their own UI elements plastered on top.

Before we get into the UI itself, I feel obliged to say that it’s refreshing to see on-screen navigation buttons on a non-stock Android device. I like the look of them, and in my experience, the on-screen buttons tend to be a bit more responsive than capacitive or hard-style variants. Plus, for those that do the rooting thing like myself, on-screen nav buttons are yet one more thing that you can customize and make your own. I’m a fan.

While some of the on-board applications (Calendar, Browser, Gallery, and Google applications) and software elements are basically just stock Android or stock with a slight skin, Motorola and AT&T have added their bits of customization. Some of these are useful and some of these are useless fluff.

This especially applies to the non-removable AT&T crap that the carrier has decided to burden the user’s device with: AT&T Code Scanner, AT&T Family Map, AT&T Navigator, AT&T Ready2Go, AT&T Smart Wi-Fi, and LiveTV. Granted, some of these apps may be useful for certain customers, but the option to uninstall would be a nice friendly gesture by the carrier. Many of Motorola’s extra apps (excluding Smart Actions, more on this later) by comparison are completely uninstallable. Nice.

Motorola left their mark on the general UI of the software in a few distinct areas. First would be the lockscreen. While Google limits the shortcuts of the stock Android lockscreen to general unlocking and camera, Motorola has given the user four options: Camera, Phone, Messaging, and then the general unlock. There’s also a quick toggle for turning silent/vibrate on and off. All in all, Motorola did a good job here of adding some great features but keeping the Android 4.0 feel.

Launcher
The replacement launcher that Motorola used works well for the most part. Down at the bottom you have four replaceable app shortcuts with the button for the app drawer in the middle, like stock Ice Cream Sandwich. The four stock buttons do offer a quick feature that’s actually convenient and useful by showing relevant information if you slide up on the icon; for instance, if you slide up on the phone icon, it shows recent calls.

[pullquote3 quotes=”true” align=”right” variation=”red” textColor=”#[pullquote3 align=”right” variation=”red” textColor=”#bf1b29″]The launcher default home page is the one on the far left. And that’s all it can be. Period. There’s no way to change which page is your home screen… just inefficient. [/pullquote3]
The launcher starts off with one screen. Swiping over to go to the right automatically opens up a new launcher page creation screen, giving you the option to choose to create a completely blank launcher page or select one of several pre-created pages. This is a good option for those that are less tech savvy or just jumping into Android for the first time, and it was a good thought of Motorola.

Where it gets odd for the launcher is that the default home page is the one on the far left. And that’s all it can be. Period. There’s no way to change which launcher page is your home screen. When it comes down to it, this is just inefficient. If I have five pages, that’s four pages I have to swipe through to get to the last page. Personally, I would prefer the center page as the home, in the middle of the action as it were, though regardless of preference, giving the user the choice (like the TouchWiz and Sense launchers) is the best policy. Now, you can double tap the home button which will bring up all of your screens and from there you can select which one you want to bring up…but for most users this isn’t natural. Again, like the power and volume buttons placement, this is more odd design choice than deal breaker. And heck, if it’s that big a deal for you, download a third party launcher.

[pullquote3 quotes=”true” variation=”red” textColor=”#bf1b29″]Why would you replace this keyboard with an inferior one only to theme it to look exactly like the stock Android keyboard? [/pullquote3]
Speaking of third party launchers…I’m going to go on a rant here about the stock Motorola keyboard (and manufacturer soft keyboard replacements in general). Guys, Android’s stock keyboard for ice cream sandwich is pretty darn fantastic. It offers excellent error correction, runs fast and smooth, and gives users a wide range of customization options. Why would you replace this keyboard with an inferior one only to theme it to look exactly like the stock Android keyboard? If you’re wanting to use a keyboard that has added features or want to theme it to better match your UI, that’s one thing, but this replacement makes no sense. The main thing that got me, beyond correction accuracy, was that it doesn’t automatically correct contractions, something that should be a given nowadays. For me, this was solved by downloading the stellar SwiftKey 3.

Beyond the couple of problems listed above, the software worked mostly very well, moving quickly under the power of the powerful processor beneath the hood.

Connectivity/Battery life

My signal with AT&T was hit and miss. At home and when I went to visit my folks in Dallas, my signal was excellent as were my data speeds. AT&T’s LTE data speed can definitely cook, with my peak speed being over 45 MB/s down and over 21 MB/s up. Where I work in San Antonio, however was a black hole of death where calls and texts would barely go through, though this is just a trouble spot for AT&T. When I got signal though, callers were clear and said the same of me. The dual-microphone setup also did a good job with basic noise cancellation in light wind and decent background noise.

Battery life was also hit and miss. The idle time was pretty good, hitting almost 3 days if I just left it alone. Heavy to moderate use though was another story. In these situations, I was typically needing a charger just after lunch time. Given the huge battery that was squeezed into the still svelte Droid Razr Maxx, the 1780 mAh power pusher in the Atrix HD seems tiny. Given a bigger battery, I’m sure battery life would be a lot more impressive.

Conclusion

The Atrix HD is definitely a good deal for the money if you’re on AT&T. It does very well as a phone in clarity and reception (at least where AT&T is concerned), and really that’s what a phone is for. Beyond that, it hits the spot in build-quality, with only a few real nitpicks. The same goes for the software, most of which can be corrected with third-party downloads. Battery life is also questionable, but for those that don’t stay on their phones all day like I do, this may not be a concern. The only area that the Atrix HD really fails is the camera, and because of this there’s a decent segment of people (those that use their camera as their primary point-and-shoot) that I just couldn’t recommend this for. If this is something that Motorola can fix with a firmware update and end up doing so, I would definitely recommend this phone.

U.S. Cellular intros Samsung Galaxy Metrix 4G

Scott Webster
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U.S. Cellular has begun selling a new Android-powered Samsung smartphone online and will later release it in retail stores later in the week. Called the Samsung Galaxy Metrix 4G, it runs $179.00 after $100 mail-in rebate.  Should you live in a current or prospective 4G LTE market you’ll be able to get it for an even more attractive $129.00 after $100 mail-in rebate.

Details include a sliding QWERTY keyboard, a 4.0-inch display, a 1GHz processor, 5-megapixel camera, and front-facing camera.  Certainly not a top-line smartphone but what do ya expect for that kind of money?

U.S. CELLULAR LAUNCHES NEXT 4G LTE SMARTPHONE: SAMSUNG GALAXY METRIX 4G

QWERTY Keyboard Device Available Online Today and In Stores Friday

CHICAGO (August 22, 2012) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile), have announced that the Samsung® Galaxy Metrix™ 4G is available online today at uscellular.com and will be available in stores on Friday, August 24. The Android™ powered smartphone runs on the 4G LTE™ network, with speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G. The Galaxy Metrix 4G sells for $179.00 after a $100 mail-in rebate and $129.00 after a $100 mail-in rebate in markets where 4G LTE service is currently available and will be available by the end of 2012. Visit uscellular.com for detailed pricing.

The Galaxy Metrix 4G has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard to get your message out quickly and a front-facing camera for easy video chatting. The 4.0-inch touchscreen allows you to clearly view movies and video games and use the Internet on-the-go. You also have access to Google Play™, a one-stop shop for Android users to access nearly half a million apps, millions of songs and books, and thousands of movies.

“We are excited to offer our latest 4G LTE smartphone for our customers to help them get more done in less time,” said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S.Cellular. “The large touchscreen and popular QWERTY keyboard for fast typing make the Galaxy Metrix 4G the go-to device for customers who depend on their smartphone to keep up with their busy schedules.”

Highlighted features:

    • Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
    • 1 GHz processor
    • 4.0-inch touchscreen
    • 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and camcorder
    • Front-facing camera

The Galaxy Metrix 4G will be available to all U.S. Cellular customers and will run on the 4G LTE network in markets where it is available and on U.S. Cellular’s nationwide 3G network in all other areas.

U.S. Cellular customers enjoy unique benefits, such as new devices faster without continuously signing contracts, free Overage Protection and free Battery Swap. U.S. Cellular also offers customers the only points-based rewards program in the industry, which rewards customers for simple things, such as paying bills on-time, adding a line or referring friends and family. Points may be used for faster phone upgrades, additional lines, devices, accessories and ringtones.

U.S. Cellular, in partnership with King Street Wireless, currently offers 4G LTE service covering 31 percent of their customers in select cities in Iowa, Maine, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Later this year, 4G LTE coverage will expand to cover select cities in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia. By the end of 2012, 58 percent of U.S. Cellular customers will enjoy faster 4G LTE speeds.  For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G.

The Galaxy Metrix 4G will be available for $179.00 after a $100 mail-in rebate. It will be available for $129.00 after a $100 mail-in rebate in markets where 4G service is available today or will be available by the end of 2012. Visit uscellular.com for detailed pricing. Purchase of a data plan is required and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply.

Samsung, Galaxy and Metrix are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. 4G used in connection with the Samsung Galaxy Metrix refers to the fact that it is capable of operating on U.S. Cellular’s 4G network.

About King Street Wireless, L.P.
King Street Wireless, L.P. currently holds 700 MHz wireless spectrum in 27 states and is partnering with Chicago-based U.S. Cellular to deliver high-speed 4G LTE service to U.S. Cellular’s customers in several of the carrier’s markets.  King Street Wireless is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia where it is recognized for its involvement in its community both through its economic development and philanthropic efforts. To learn more about King Street Wireless, visit www.kingstreetwireless.com.

About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit http://www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit http://www.samsung.com.

About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. Currently, 31 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds and 58 percent will have access by the end of 2012. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Champion in 2012 for the second year in a row. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular andYouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 arrives August 16

Scott Webster
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Samsung today confirmed that the Galaxy Note 10.1 will hit the U.S. market, announcing it with an August 16 arrival date.  With prices that start at $499, the Galaxy Note 10.1 features beefed up hardware that includes a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB or 32GB ($549) internal storage, and microSD expansion.  Of course, being a Note product, the tablet comes with S Pen technology and allows for drawing, markups, highlights, and more.

The Android 4.0-powered Galaxy Note 10.1, like other Samsung tablets of late, includes Peel Smart Remote, Barnes & Noble NOOK, and Polaris Office.  And just for good measures, Samsung has tossed in PhotoShop Touch for photo editing and retouching. Look for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 in retail stores and online tomorrow, August 16.

Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 Has Arrived; Game-Changing Device Hits U.S. Store Shelves Tomorrow

New York, August 15, 2012 – Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced its highly anticipated GALAXY Note 10.1 for the U.S. market. The device will be available for purchase tomorrow – August 16th, 2012 – across the U.S.at authorized retailers.

At a launch event in New York City, Samsung will be joined by fashion designer Zac Posen, who has created looks for the most elite stars, and acclaimed writer, producer, director Baz Luhrmann (William Shakespeare’s Romeo+Juliet, Moulin Rouge and the forthcoming The Great Gatsby). Each will provide a window into their own creative process, and how the Galaxy Note 10.1 will unleash new levels of inspiration in their work.

The GALAXY Note 10.1 extends the GALAXY Note category, building on the success of last year’s worldwide hit smartphone – and delivering the functionality and precision of a pen and paper by combining the S Pen with a 10.1-inch large display.

Adobe’s premium creative application, Photoshop® Touch is preloaded and optimized for Samsung’s S Pen to deliver unprecedented precision and control.

The device also introduces the game changing Multiscreen feature, which allows users to actually operate two different apps side-by-side, simultaneously, on the same screen.

Thanks to a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB RAM, the Galaxy Note 10.1 can handle it all without missing a beat.

“Our goal with the Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 was simple – redefine the tablet experience,” said Tim Baxter, President, Samsung Electronics America. “The S Pen offers both active content creation as well as passive content consumption, while the Multiscreen capability finally enables true multitasking. For the user, the resulting experience is completely new and quite unexpected.”

True Multitasking with Multiscreen Feature

With GALAXY Note 10.1’s Multiscreen feature, users can effortlessly utilize two different applications side-by-side simultaneously for true and easy multitasking. Users can view Web pages or videos, or launch other applications while writing or sketching ideas with the S Pen on the other half of the screen – no need to toggle back and forth between apps.

Further, users can even capture and crop images from an app on one side, and drag them to an app on the side – for enhanced creativity and productivity.

Apps supported for Multiscreen are S Note, Internet Browser, Video Player, Email, Gallery and Polaris Office . The Galaxy Note 10.1 thus meets the increasing needs of a growing mobile workforce, from interfacing with customers to creative sharing.

The GALAXY Note 10.1 also offers the Pop up Play feature first introduced on the GALAXY S III Smartphone. With it, users can play back videos in a floating window that can be overlaid anywhere on the screen, providing a “picture in picture” experience. New for the GALAXY Note 10.1 is the ability to adjust the size of the video window.

In addition, GALAXY Note 10.1 offers a mini-apps tray that can launch a selection of mini-app on top of others apps and freely moved around the screen. These include Alarm, S Note, Music Player, Email, Calculator, World Clock.

S Pen & S Note Make it Personal

Featuring an advanced S Pen with 1,024 levels of sensitivity, GALAXY Note 10.1 is designed for natural and intuitive content creation. The S Pen is embedded directly into a slot in the device and when removed, activates a taskbar with quick access to optimized S Pen apps such as S Note, Adobe® Photoshop® Touch and Polaris Office.  Alternatively, users can easily set their preferred application to be launched instantly.

The S Note application is a unique tool that gives users the ability to combine notes and sketches with other digital content in ready-to-use templates. Shape Match converts hand-drawn shapes such a square and lines into clean and perfect versions – perfect for creating charts. Formula Match can actually solve formulas hand-written with the S Pen.

S Note is also integrated with knowledge search engines so that users can search for content, obtain information, and easily drag and drop content onto S Notes without having to switch between screens.

Adobe Photoshop Touch – Edit Photos Like Never Before

Adobe® Photoshop® Touch, normally a $9.99 purchase, is preloaded on the GALAXY Note 10.1. Further, since it is optimized for S Pen, users are able to control brush size and opacity by just adjusting the pressure of the pen on the screen.

“Samsung’s GALAXY Note 10.1, with its pressure-sensitive S Pen, truly unleashes the power of Adobe Photoshop Touch and provides a great tool for creative expression,” said Winston Hendrickson, vice president products, Creative Media Solutions, Adobe. “More than ever, people around the world want to create, wherever and whenever inspiration strikes. We look forward to seeing what they imagine with the S Pen and Photoshop Touch.”

Users can also use popular Photoshop features such as layers, selection tools, adjustments, and filters to create mind-blowing images, or use the high quality GALAXY Note 10.1 camera to fill an area on a layer with the unique camera fill feature.

With Photoshop Touch, it’s also a snap to add or remove people or objects from a photo, or blend two photos together.

To get users started quickly, in-depth step-by-step tutorials are provided to help users learn techniques the pros use for great-looking results.

Photoshop Touch is integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud providing users free access to powerful file syncing and sharing features and 2GB of storage space. Files can be synched to the Creative Cloud and opened in Photoshop on the desktop or laptop for further refinement.

The Ultimate ebook Experience

Samsung is adding even more value through a range of partners.

Kno, a pioneer in education software, will offer its e-textbook platform preloaded on the GALAXY Note 10.1. With it, k-12 or higher education students can say goodbye to heavy backpacks filled with books and instead, download any of thousands of interactive textbooks. Even better, with the new Social Sharing feature announced today, they can utilize the S Pen to highlight and annotate the texts, and share those annotations with other students and teachers in the context of their book.

The popular NOOK® free reading app from Barnes & Noble will also be preloaded on the GALAXY Note 10.1 as well as a customized NOOK for Android™ Widgetallowing quick and easy access to titles directly from the desktop.

A range of other partners are involved as well, delivering a complete solution.

To allow seamless collaboration with others, the GALAXY Note 10.1 offers a free two-year subscription to Dropbox, giving users 50 GB of storage space – a $100 value.*

Samsung Smart Remote, powered by Peel, utilizes the built-in IR emitter in the GALAXY Note 10.1 to transform the device into a sophisticated universal remote control that can control an entire home entertainment system and even recommend programs.

Finally, Polaris Office lets provides robust word processing, spreadsheet and presentation capabilities, while S Pen support makes it a snap to mark up and annotate documents.

Superior Hardware Performance and Connectivity

GALAXY Note 10.1 is designed with advanced hardware technology, including a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of internal RAM. Seamless multi-tasking, high-standard graphics, and blazing-fast performance without any lag are essential features of GALAXY Note 10.1. The device also includes a 5-megapixel main camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera.

The GALAXY Note 10.1 carries over several features first introduced with the hit GALAXY S III smartphone, making it an ideal companion tablet for owners of that devices. ShareShot which makes it a snap to automatically share photos in real time between the GALAXY Note 10.1 and the GALAXY S III.

Smart Stay, first introduced with the GALAXY S III, uses the camera in the GALAXY Note 10.1 to prevent the device from going into standby mode while it detects a user in front of the device.

Finally, with AllShare® Play, users can share content with a large group in real-time by connecting GALAXY Note 10.1 to Samsung HD TVs, phones, mobile tablets, laptops, and other consumer electronic devices on the same network. With Group Cast, users can also share and collaborate on documents, presentations, or images in real time, without loading the files separately.

Available Aug 16th Across the U.S.

GALAXY Note 10.1 will be available beginning Aug 16th nationwide at partners including Best Buy, Amazon, Tiger Direct, HH Gregg, CDW, BrandSmart, Conn’s and Fry’s.

In a special promotion, Samsung will also be making the Galaxy Note 10.1 available at BBY’s Union Square store in NYC beginning at noon EST today, Aug 15th.

The device will be available in choice of white or dark gray, and in 16 GB or 32 GB memory configurations, for $499 or $549 SRP, respectively.

Available accessories include replacement S Pen, S Pen Holder Kit, Book Cover in Grey or White, Travel Charger, USB Connection Kit to allow usage of thumb drives or USB peripherals, HDMI adapter and Universal Desktop Dock.

For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com.

MetroPCS announces Galaxy S Lightray 4G

Scott Webster
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MetroPCS today announced their latest Android smartphone, the Gingerbread-powered Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G.  Available in stores and online for $459, the handset features a 1GHz processor, 8-megapixel camera with LED flash, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, and 4g LTE connectivity. Additional specs include a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, microSD expansion, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS.

Not only is this MetroPCS’s first Samsung Galaxy S phone, but the Lightray 4G is the first smartphone in the United States to offer live, local television via Dyle mobile TV.  The service is only available in select markets at this time, but it provides access to sports, news, and other content across multiple network provides.

MetroPCS Dials In Unique Entertainment Experience with the Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G Smartphone

Latest Smartphone Offers 4G LTE Performance and is First to Offer Dyle™ mobile TV to US Smartphone Users

DALLAS (August 3, 2012) – MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S® LightrayTM 4G*. The latest in MetroPCS’ expanding 4G LTE Android™ smartphone lineup – and the first Samsung Galaxy S device for MetroPCS – allows consumers to browse the web and applications, download exciting content plus stream videos and music in a flash. Available today, this powerful smartphone offers 4G LTE service with no annual contract and tax-and-regulatory-fee-inclusive service plans starting at just $40 per month.

The Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G will be also the first smartphone in the U.S. to offer live, local broadcast television with Dyle™ mobile TV. Dyle mobile TV keeps consumers informed and entertained while on the go and allows them to watch local and national sports, news and entertainment broadcast programming on their mobile phones. Access to the Dyle mobile TV service will be offered in select markets and at no additional charge to customers on a MetroPCS 4G LTE service plan. More information about Dyle mobile TV is available at http://www.dyle.tv/ and the Dyle coverage map is available at http://www.dyle.tv/using-dyle/coverage-map/.

Powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), the Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G features a crystal-clear 4.3-inch Super AMOLED™ touchscreen and a speedy 1GHz processor. Its 8.0 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera are great for capturing photos and video chatting with friends and family.

Additionally, the Galaxy S Lightray 4G will be MetroPCS’ first smartphone to feature 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot, allowing customers to share their MetroPCS 4G LTE connection and data with multiple Wi-Fi®-enabled devices. MetroPCS will also offer 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot on future 4G LTE Android smartphones.

The Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G is available in MetroPCS stores and online at www.MetroPCS.com for $459 plus tax. More information about 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is available athttp://www.metropcs.com/4GLTE-mobile-hotspot.

Review: Verizon’s Droid Incredible 4G LTE

Justin Marden
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Is HTC on a mission to come up with the longest possible names for phones? As if the Sprint HTC Evo 4G LTE wasn’t enough, now we’re dealing with the Verizon HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE. I’ve had the Droid Incredible 4G LTE for just over a week, and big thanks go out to our friends at HTC for sending us a loaner to review. At first, the device struck me as something from HTC’s One series, but after a quick investigation, the specs didn’t match up with any of the One devices. Although it does have the familiar three capacitive buttons (Back, Home, and the Recents button found in ICS), the Droid Incredible 4G LTE isn’t affiliated with the series. This is a shame. But we’ll get into that shortly. First, here’s a quick rundown of what the Droid Incredible 4G LTE has under the hood:

  • 4-inch qHD Super LCD display, at 960 x 540, with Corning Gorilla Glass
  • LTE (as if the “4G LTE” part of the name wasn’t a dead giveaway)
  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with HTC’s Sense 4 UI
  • 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 8GB internal storage
  • MicroSD card slot for additional memory
  • 8MP rear camera, with an LED flash, 1080p HD video capture, and a bunch of other technical goodies that HTC threw in
  • VGA front-facing camera
  • 1,700 mAh battery
  • NFC
  • DLNA capabilities

Build Quality

Let’s start with the most obvious aspect of the device: how it looks and feels in the hand. HTC has always built quality devices, and the Droid Incredible 4G LTE (are you getting as tired of reading that as I am of typing it?) is no exception. Rounded corners, a narrow form factor, and that familiar soft-touch matte battery cover make for a gorgeous device that just feels right.

The battery cover also has diagonal lines going across it, which might have some technical purpose, or they might just be aesthetic on HTC’s part. Either way, they’re a nice, if pointless touch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The power button, speaker, and rear camera have red accents, much like that of the HTC Rezound. These really make it feel like a quality device. The Incredible 4G LTE comes in at just over 4.5 ounces, so it’s definitely not a hefty device. The weight doesn’t feel unevenly distributed, which is always nice. Coming from a larger device (Samsung Galaxy Nexus), it took a bit of time to get used to the smaller form factor. But once I had done so, the Incredible 4G LTE wasn’t that hard to use.

Software

While it’s not Jelly Bean, ICS with Sense 4.0 is definitely built around the average user, and isn’t completely unbearable. In the eternal struggle with OEMs to stick to vanilla Android, I think it’s safe to say that HTC has taken some of the criticism to heart with Sense 4. It’s been slimmed down from previous Sense versions, and isn’t as in-your-face as its predecessors. Sense still slows down the overall performance of the phone, but it’s definitely less noticeable than something like Sense 3.5.

Not surprisingly, there are fourteen bloatware unwanted applications loaded onto the device (two of which are from HTC, twelve from Verizon). Most of these cannot be removed (curses). They range from Amazon products to VCast stores to the dinosaur known as VZ Navigator. We could rant and rave for days on end about giving users the option to remove these apps, but at this point it borders on cliché.

Sense 4, of course, comes with its own launcher, complete with some HTC-built widgets, like the 18 different clock widgets, several People widgets, and all the power controls you could ever need on a home screen. Out of the box, you’re given seven home screens, but there’s always the option to remove some, add some, or even rearrange whole screens, icons and all. Obviously if Sense isn’t your thing, you could always install a third-party launcher like Apex.

Sense 4 also comes with countless customizable aspects, one of the biggest being the lockscreen. There are eight different lockscreen styles to choose from: wallpaper, productivity, photo album, friend stream, weather, people, clock, and stocks. Personally, productivity was the most useful, but for a stockbroker or a social network junkie, another option might be more enjoyable. 

One thing about the lockscreen that bothered me was the fact that I couldn’t select which four icons I wanted to be at my disposal. Unlike previous Sense versions, the lockscreen loads the items from the launcher dock into the lockscreen. Since I organize my apps into folders, and placed these folders in the dock, I got what you see above, every time I locked the device. Need I say more?

Camera

It comes as no shock to me that the camera on the Incredible 4G LTE is spectacular. Given the amount of time HTC spent discussing the camera upgrades during their Sense 4/HTC One event, I expected great results. And I wasn’t disappointed.

The rear 8MP camera blew me away right out of the gate, with both indoor and outdoor pictures coming out perfectly almost every time. The colors stood out, and the camera UI itself is just usable and easy to navigate. The camera scenes were a nice touch, ranging from panorama to landscape to HDR. Personally, I don’t see all the hype behind HDR, but to each their own.

Back to the rear camera, which produced beautiful pictures with and without the flash. I took the majority of the photos below outdoors, to show how well the camera performs in sunlight. Two of the photos were taken with the HDR filter, and this is obvious when looking at them.

 

 

It just wouldn’t be complete without a picture of a cat.

Display

While the 4-inch qHD display on the device isn’t the worst, it doesn’t stack up very well against other devices, like the Galaxy S3 with its Super AMOLED HD screen. Also, the fact that the Droid Incredible 4G LTE’s display is only 4 inches made using the device feel a bit cramped. With OEMs releasing 4.6- and 5-inch devices these days (I’m looking at you, Samsung), it surprised me that HTC chose a smaller 4-inch form factor for this one. Of course, for someone coming from an even smaller display, or perhaps from a dumbphone, 4 inches might be perfect. It’s all personal preference.

The colors on the display weren’t bad, but they weren’t mind-blowing. In today’s smartphone market, I feel that HTC might have dropped the ball when it comes to this display, and the device in general.

LTE… sorta

So we know that Verizon’s 4G LTE network is fast. I’ve seen countless screenshots that show upwards of 15-20 Mbps down, and at least 8 Mbps up. While I wish and wish that I could show the same results, the fact remains that I had only one opportunity to take the device to an area with LTE coverage, and it wasn’t exactly the speed I had envisioned. The highest speed that I was able to achieve was near 5 Mbps down, and 4 Mbps up.

That’s not to say that speeds aren’t much higher in other areas with better LTE coverage. Verizon is constantly expanding its LTE network, so surely more and more cities will be getting coverage in the near future. I can say that for the short time that I was able to use Big Red’s 4G, web pages loaded very quickly, photos uploaded and downloaded in a snap, and I had no issues regarding speed.

Usability

Sense obviously has some pros and some cons for a lot of people. There are several nice features built into Sense, but the debate on whether these features are worth the lag that the UI causes will probably never end. I found Sense to be more of a nuisance than a help. The Incredible 4G LTE has a 1.2GHz dual-core S4 processor, and should be able to blaze through quite a bit of usage without any trouble. But because of Sense, lag makes sudden and random appearances, if only for a short time. These delays aren’t long enough to be too noticeable, and are barely there to the average user.

If HTC released a device like the Incredible 4G LTE without Sense, and running stock ICS or Jelly Bean, I would be more optimistic about it. For someone coming from a stock Android device, this might not be the best option for you.

This was after a very light day of usage, the phone was on WiFi almost the whole day and mostly just sat in my pocket.

Battery life, on the other hand, has actually been rather delightful. I’ve made it through a day of mild to moderate usage (checking emails, social networks, text messaging, using the camera, etc.) before the battery dropped below 15% and needed to be charged. The worst day in terms of battery life was when I made it nearly ten hours on a full charge before having to plug into my backup battery. I haven’t had any issues with the battery overheating, or the back of the device getting too warm after heavy usage.

WiFi, why you no go away?

If there is one glitch to destroy all glitches on the annoyance scale, it is this one. For some unknown reason, HTC decided that users constantly need to know when they’re connected (or not connected) to a WiFi network.

This notification never goes away. Ever. Not even after rebooting the device, clearing all notifications, and toggling WiFi dozens of times. It leads me to ask just one question: “Why, HTC? Why?!”

Final thoughts, pros, cons

So after a week with the Droid Incredible 4G LTE, I wasn’t very impressed. True, it is a very nice device in terms of appearance and price (at only $149.99 with a new 2-year contract), but it just doesn’t grab much attention at this point. Now that the HTC One X is available on AT&T, and the Galaxy S3 on every carrier, the Incredible 4G LTE isn’t exactly at the top of the list for phones I would recommend to a friend. It only adds more fuel to the fire that Jelly Bean has been released, and the Incredible 4G LTE is running ICS with a UI that will probably take ages to update, if at all. It’s not the worst phone that HTC and Verizon have ever put out, but it’s not winning many awards anytime soon.

The WiFi bug is extremely irritating and cumbersome, but not a deal breaker of course. Of the carrier skins on the market, Sense is one of my favorites, although I’d take stock Android over all of them any day of the week. The camera is the by far the best feature of the Incredible 4G LTE, and HTC will most likely point that out in every future device with similar specs. Perhaps if HTC had released this device under the One line months ago, and it had landed on shelves at that point, it might be more popular. It seems that HTC just waited a bit too long to let this one out into the wild.

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