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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.

Casio debuts pair of rugged Android 4.0 tablets

Scott Webster
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Casio today announced a pair of Android tablets designed for business users who find themselves in the field on a regular basis.  Built around the idea of keeping things Smart and Tough, the 4.0 two tablets offer shock-resistant designs to withstand drops and come with IP54 standards to protect against dust and splashes.

We’re not exactly sure of the differences between the V-T500-GE and V-T500E  tablets as they come with similar specs.  Details include 10.1-inch displays with LED backlight, 1.5 GHz dual-core processors, NFC read/write, digital pen support (sold separately), hand belts for secure holding, and a neck strap.

Pricing and availability are not immediately clear so we’re hoping to get more information soon.  That said, these look like the types of tablets that you’ll see on construction sites, up on telephone poles, and (literally) in a field.

Via: FarEastGizmos

 

Samsung Galaxy Note official with Android 4.0 and dual-core processor

AndroidGuys
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A few hours ago, T-Mobile USA confirmed on Twitter that they will be launching the Samsung Galaxy Note and told us that more information is on its way, but we didn’t know it will be that quick. T-Mobile has officially confirmed by sending a press release that the Galaxy Note will come with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a 1.5 Ghz Dual-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 Processor.

T-Mobile is launching the Galaxy Note as an enterprise-ready device, because it will be coming with features like Wi-Fi calling, and mobile hotspot capability (up to 5 devices). It’s also featuring Samsung’s very own S.A.F.E. (Samsung Approved for Enterprise), which means a lot of enterprise-ready goodies, there’s IT policy support, AES256-bit encryption, support for Microsoft Exchange, and integrated VPN support. The 5.3 monster will run on T-Mobile’s HSPA+42 data network.

T-Mobile will be launching it in coming weeks, though no words on price. Check out the press release after the break for more, and please tell us are you planning to buy the Galaxy Note from T-Mobile, or already got yours from AT&T?

T-Mobile Expands Its Galaxy Lineup With the Samsung Galaxy Note™

Smartphone Delivers Innovative All-in-One Experience With the Perfect Blend of Work and Play Features

BELLEVUE, Wash., – July 17, 2012 – T-Mobile USA, Inc., the No. 1 mobile operator brand in Samsung Galaxy S™ sales, and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. and the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide1, today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Galaxy Note™. One of T-Mobile’s fastest devices leveraging its 4G (HSPA+ 42) network and running on Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Samsung’s Premium Suite, the Galaxy Note provides an innovative, all-in-one experience that is perfect for work, play and everything in between.

Consumers are demanding larger smartphone screen sizes. In fact, a recent T-Mobile survey2 showed 77 percent of consumers prefer a device with a 4.5-inch or larger display rather than a smaller screen. The Galaxy Note speaks directly to that demand with a 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED™ touch screen – the largest screen on a T-Mobile® smartphone. The device is elegantly designed to handle both business and home tasks with ease.

The Galaxy Note with Premium Suite provides a range of productivity-enhancing features, such as the S Pen™, S Note, S Memo™ and Polaris Office. Now T-Mobile customers can write notes, to-do lists and annotate documents; share ideas and edited content; and create documents, presentations and spreadsheets to maximize efficiency while on the go. S Note helps to professionalize communications by providing templates for seven commonly used documents such as an idea note, travel notes, diary entry, meeting notes and recipes. S Note also allows you to import and annotate a PDF file and convert dictated or handwritten memos to text with the Continual Voice Input and Handwriting-to-Text features. With S Memo, Galaxy Note users have one-touch access to creating a typewritten, handwritten or voice dictated memo; researching information during creation; and adding an image.

The Galaxy Note also has the SAFE (Samsung Approved for Enterprise™) designation, which means it has a full suite of enterprise-ready features and capabilities, including comprehensive IT policy support for top-tier mobile device management (MDM) providers, on-device AES256-bit encryption, enhanced support for Microsoft Exchange, as well as integrated support for a range of virtual private network (VPN) solutions. The Galaxy Note also provides Wi-Fi Calling capabilities and, with a qualifying rate plan, can act as a Smartphone Mobile HotSpot for up to five devices.

“In addition to larger screens, today customers demand more from their devices – from having safeguarded access to corporate email and other productivity features to being able to rely on a speedy network for streaming content,” said Andrew Morrison, vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “With the unique and highly innovative Galaxy Note in our lineup, we are even better equipped to help our customers strike the perfect balance as they juggle both professional and personal activities.”

The Samsung Galaxy Note also offers the T-Mobile 4G Pro App Pack, an aggregation of key applications, such as Dropbox, Evernote, Square, TripIt, CamScanner and LinkedIn, that can reduce the complexity and effort associated with finding and downloading business-related applications. By providing an easy path to cloud services such as Dropbox and Evernote, T-Mobile helps professionals easily store and access the documents, files, images and notes that will help them better manage their work from virtually anywhere.

Featuring a snappy Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ S3 Processor with 1.5 Ghz Dual-Core CPUs, the Galaxy Note provides customers with incredible 4G experiences, making it the perfect all-in-one device to maximize efficiency and productivity, in addition to fun. The Galaxy Note offers a variety of entertainment experiences, such as T-Mobile TV in mobile HD3 for watching live TV programming, Samsung Media Hub for renting and buying the latest movies and TV shows, and Google Play Music for streaming and purchasing music. The Galaxy Note also features an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, to capture pictures and HD videos to share with friends, family and social networks.

Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Note is expected to be available at select T-Mobile retail stores and online via http://www.T-Mobile.com in the coming weeks.

1 Samsung is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States and the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2012 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipment and Global Smartphone Shipment Reports.

2 About The Survey: The T-Mobile Smartphone Screen Survey was conducted between May 29th and June 5th, 2012 among 1,031 Americans ages 18 and over who own a smartphone, using an email invitation and an online survey. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample. The margin of error for any subgroups will be slightly higher.

Kelton is a leading global insights firm serving as a partner to more than 100 of the Fortune 500 and thousands of smaller companies and organizations. Utilizing a wide range of customized, innovative research techniques and staff expertise in marketing, branding, PR, media, and business strategy; Kelton helps drive our clients’ businesses forward.

3 Mobile HD TV can deliver a bit rate of 800kbps and 16:9 resolution; the bit rate and resolution you experience will vary based on many factors, e.g., programming, network connection and device.

Samsung, Galaxy, Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, Super AMOLED and Samsung Approved for Enterprise 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.

About T-Mobile USA:
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX: DTEGY). By the end of the first quarter of 2012, approximately 129 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group – 33.4 million by T-Mobile USA – all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS and additionally HSPA+ 21/HSPA+ 42. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit http://www.telekom.de/investor-relations.

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

 

SAFE Disclaimer of Warranties

To the full extent permitted by law, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.., Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, and its affiliates (collectively referred to herein as “Samsung”) expressly disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, including without limitation warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to information technology security protection and SAFE™ certified devices. In no event shall Samsung be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever with respect to information technology security protection and SAFE™ certified devices. Enterprise IT security protection will be effected by features or functionality associated with the E-Mail Platform, MDM and VPN solutions selected by customer. Choice of an E-Mail, MDM and VPN solution is at the sole discretion of the customer and any associated effect on IT security protection is solely the responsibility of the customer and/or the solution provider. For complete statement of limited warranty, please refer to http://www.samsung.com available on the web and where Samsung smartphone and Galaxy Tab™ devices are sold.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. These forward-looking statements may include statements with regard to the expected development of revenue, earnings, profits from operations, depreciation and amortization, cash flows and personnel-related measures. You should consider them with caution. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom’s control. Among the factors that might influence our ability to achieve our objectives are the progress of our workforce reduction initiative and other cost-saving measures, and the impact of other significant strategic, labor or business initiatives, including acquisitions, dispositions and business combinations, and our network upgrade and expansion initiatives. In addition, stronger than expected competition, technological change, legal proceedings and regulatory developments, among other factors, may have a material adverse effect on our costs and revenue development. Further, the economic downturn in our markets, and changes in interest and currency exchange rates, may also have an impact on our business development and the availability of financing on favorable conditions. Changes to our expectations concerning future cash flows may lead to impairment write downs of assets carried at historical cost, which may materially affect our results at the group and operating segment levels. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, our actual performance may materially differ from the performance expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We can offer no assurance that our estimates or expectations will be achieved. Without prejudice to existing obligations under capital market law, we do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to take new information or future events into account or otherwise.

 

In addition to figures prepared in accordance with IFRS, Deutsche Telekom also presents non-GAAP financial performance measures, including, among others, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted EBIT, adjusted net income, free cash flow, gross debt and net debt. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with IFRS. Non-GAAP financial performance measures are not subject to IFRS or any other generally accepted accounting principles. Other companies may define these terms in different ways.

Motorola Atrix HD priced $99, arrives at AT&T on July 15

Scott Webster
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Motorola has confirmed the rumors that the recently announced Atrix HD will arrive for AT&T in less than a week’s time.  Priced at $99 with a two-year service agreement, the handset features a 4.5-inch HD display, an 8-megapixel rear camera (1080p HD), a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and support for 4G LTE.  Wrapped in the same Kevlar coating that comes with the Droid Razr series, the Atrix HD hits all AT&T channels on July 15th.

Press release

Nexus 7 review

Scott Webster
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What we liked:  Priced to sell, the $199 sticker puts this in conversations for anyone considering the Kindle Fire.  Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is considerably more than a minor update to Ice Cream Sandwich; Google Now is easily our favorite new feature.  Fast on every front, the Nexus 7 is the new standard for Android tablets, thanks largely to its quad-core Tegra 3 CPU.

Room for Improvement: We’d love to see microSD expansion and a rear camera if only because that’s what we’re accustomed to seeing on tablets.  Moving the speaker(s) to opposite ends would also improve our experience for games and HD movies.  The placement of the volume and power buttons require a bit of familiarization as the tapered design makes them feel like they are on the backside.

Review at a Glance: Next to the Samsung Galaxy S III, the Nexus 7 was the worst kept Android secret of 2012.  After rumors started in late 2011 that Asus and Google would be working together on a tablet in the Nexus name, the conversation quickly shifted from if it would happen to when it would happen.  Now that Google I/O 2012 has come and gone and the Nexus 7 has been delivered, we turn out attention to whether it was all worth the hype.  We say it is most definitely worth every bit of anticipation and even more.  We hate to employ the overused phrase, but the fact is the game has changed.

Hardware

We could go into a long-winded diatribe about the hardware and whether it is justified by the $200 price point but that would be a waste of time.  Simply put, there’s no other tablet on the market that competes at this price.  What about the Amazon Kindle Fire?  On the hardware front, there’s no comparison.  Among other details, the Nexus 7 offers a considerably faster processor, higher resolution display, a front-facing camera, and Bluetooth. If you are in the market for a true Android tablet and need to watch your pennies, this is the one to buy.

The IMDb app looks great on the Nexus 7.

Much is said about whether the 7-inch display size is right for Android and if users should instead consider a 10-inch model. No, you should not.  Time and again I find myself happily returning to the Kindle Fire and other 7-inch tablets for reading magazines, books, emails, and other apps.  Titles such as IMDb, TED, and Currents work wonderfully on the portable tablet and really shine here with the 1280×800 resolution display.  That’s not to say a 10-inch tablet isn’t right for anyone or that we wouldn’t love to get our hands on the same experience on a larger screen.  The 7-inch screen is much better for typical users than they think, and it’s a huge step up from 3.5-inch and 4.5-inch handsets.

The NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor inside the Nexus 7 is a screamer and performs as well as anything else we’ve played with in the past.  While some credit is due to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and the Project Butter stuff, the quad-core CPU has handled anything and everything we’ve thrown at it so far.  Games such as Zen Pinball THD, Dark Meadow: The Pact, and Sonic 4 Episode II THD not only look gorgeous but they play exceedingly well on the 7-inch display.  Hate to obstruct your view with fingers and hands? Hook up a Bluetooth game pad and watch how immerse your games feel.

I’ve long held the opinion that mobile games are best served casual but am quickly learning to love console-like quality titles.  Whether it’s the quad-core CPU, the 12-core GPU, or a combination of the two, I love how water effects, smoke, lighting, and other features get a chance to shine on the Nexus 7.

Although we’re familiar with seeing a rear camera on our tablets, it’s hardly something we ever use.  That said, we immediately missed having one for taking pictures and loading apps like Instagram.  Sure, we could sideload whatever we want if we really tried, but we found ourselves wanting to snap a photo or two from the Nexus 7 only to switch to our phone.  It’s certainly not a deal-breaker for us but we’d like at least a 5-megapixel camera on the device seeing as how portable the tablet is. If you’re going to add in NFC support for usage outside of the home and office, then why not add this in?

Generally speaking, the Nexus 7 is a sharp tablet with a unique soft-grip backside that feels like it might get dirty.  Our version has a white rear and initially felt like it would gather oil and dirt however a week later it’s still nice and clean.  There’s a lot of bezel around the display and I’ve heard plenty of complaints about wasted space.  After using it for a few days, I’ve come to block this out, if not appreciate it a bit.  Given that my tablet use is more for consumption of media and reading, I like that I do not accidentally turn pages or swipe to additional screens. As for the extra space on the top and bottom, though, I cannot make up a good enough reason to justify all that black.

Software

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is a significant step forward for the platform and it’s much bigger than we could have envisioned.  We’d have been perfectly fine with Google calling this a 5.0 release as it has all sorts of wonderful stuff that is very obvious to users.  Starting with the ability to launch into Google Now, one sees that this is a different Android experience. Toss in some speedy animations and effects and you see that Google really cares about how things looked.  If you’ve been with Android for a few years then you know just how simple (read: ugly) things could be for apps and general settings.  The UI is sharp, clean, and continues on the foundation that was built with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.  Android was initially known for being more powerful than other mobile platforms but it’s not hard to say that future releases will be more beautiful than others in the space.

Google Now is our new favorite Android feature.

Even in its first few days Google Now has emerged as the clear winner in assistant and voice activated apps.  Why?  Because it delivers everything you want or need, and without prompt.  Why bother asking what the weather is or how long it will take to get to your appointment?  A simple swipe of the screen gives you this information, and more.

The best part of Google Now is that you don’t train it in the ways you would typically teach an app, it just observes you and your habits.  Spend any length of time at a particular destination or place on the map and Google thinks it might important to you.  Every so often you will see Google Now suggest a spot to you and ask if it’s important, providing at-a-glance ETA and traffic details.  Ask Google Now a couple of times whether your favorite baseball team won and it’s going to start telling you ahead of time.  What’s more, it also provides a seamless way to purchase tickets to the next game, if that’s your wont.

As many of you already know, additional features of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean include offline voice-to-text, smart widget placement and sizing, and a quicker way to view photos.  While each one is a cool option or selling point on its own, this is one of those “the total is greater than the sum of its parts” scenarios.  Spend more than a few days with Jelly Bean and you will find older versions of Android somewhat maddening.  Why can’t I move my widget to the bottom of the screen without moving each icon first!?  Why can’t I compose an email using my voice while riding on the subway?!

Parting Thoughts

I’m sure I’m not the only one to hope that the Nexus 7 is the start of a regular series of Android tablets designed to move the platform forward.  Larger players such as Amazon will be pushing their agenda forward with new designs and attractive price points.  On the other end, smaller companies with tablets hovering around $100-$150 will get more powerful all the time.  Here’s to hoping Google circles back once a year to say, “This is where we think tablets should be and how much they should cost.”

Considering the way Amazon and Apple push their products, I sincerely hope to see Google or Asus offer this tablet in retail environments.  I understand that there’s next to no margin or room for profit, however Google needs to beat people over the head with this tablet.  This should not be one of those ad campaigns with AdSense/AdWords on websites or something is only talked about in online conversations.  Consumers need to see commercials for the Nexus 7 during prime-time television shows and sporting events.

While Android 4.1 is the most intuitive and feature-rich version of the platform yet, it’s still not something that your mother or uncle will figure out right away. There’s a day or two of playing around with Jelly Bean before someone might feel truly comfortable, whereas Amazon’s Kindle Fire excels at ease of use.   That said, this is the sexiest and most robust tablet experience we’ve played with to date.

 

Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset review

Scott Webster
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[dropcap_1] I [/dropcap_1] n the market for some Bluetooth headphones?  You may want to check out Phiaton’s PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset as they’ve quickly become our favorite headphones around the house.  I love to use them for when I ride my bicycle or mow the grass and my wife uses them for when she goes on long runs.

To be honest, I had never heard of Phiaton until recently so I had no idea as to what sort of quality to expect. That said, they had a sharp looking website and their products were pretty, if not sleek and stylish.  But you know the adage of books and covers…

Pulled out of the box, I noticed just how lightweight and flexible the cord was, and how sharp they looked overall.  Paired over Bluetooth in a matter of seconds, these were clipped to my shirt and ready to go.  One of the things I liked most about these is that they are part in-ear and part outside-the-ear.  Seeing as how many of us prefer one style over the other, it’s safe to say that these don’t go too far in the direction you don’t like.

Getting back to that “cord” for a moment, I’d like to elaborate on how or why this Bluetooth headset has one.  It’s not to tether to your phone or tablet, but rather to allow quick and simple access to music controls and calling features.  How long is it?  At 1.2m it reaches the end of a short sleeve T-shirt with a little slack, but not too much.

Moving on to the controller.. need to turn that Carly Rae Jepsen song up really loud?  Simply reach over to your sleeve and crank it!  Want to turn mom down because she yells into the phone?  Ditto. Other music controls include fast forward, rewind, stop, pause, and play.  For calls, the controller allows you to answer a call without needing to go to your phone.  Hang up and your back to your music!

[quote_left] …quickly become our favorite headphones around the house. [/quote_left] As far as materials are concerned, the Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset comes with four different sizes of silicon tips to make sure that they fit all shapes and ears. Calls sound quite nice and music works across all genres.  Lows are better than expected and mid-range and highs are as crisp as we’ve heard elsewhere.  Additionally, the headset comes with a carrying pouch for portability and storage  for the charger.

Talk and music playback time is listed as 6 hours which sounds pretty accurate.  At 250 hours of standby time, it’s far more than I or my wife need between charges and use.  If there’s one complaint we both have it is that we don’t know how much juice is left before it needs to be charged.  Typically, we will charge (microUSB) after each use or in the car before she does a run and we’ll be alright.  However, she’s been out running in the neighborhood and have it go completely dead on her without a warning.  Again, if you have good habits and keep up on it, this is not really an issue.  Don’t tell her, but I could do a better job of plugging them back in when done.

You can pick up a pair of Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset through a variety of outlets, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg.  Listed at $129.99 they are as nice as other models we’ve tested, including corded “premium” headsets. Shop around and you’ll see anything from $88.00 – $129 with Amazon often coming in as the lowest.

Google takes on home media with Nexus Q

AndroidGuys
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Google’s off to the races today with announcements across a multitude of platforms, some of them expected, some not so much. Falling into the latter category, Google has announced a surprising new member to its Nexus line: the Nexus Q, a home media centerpiece designed to integrate with Google’s cloud media products. The device has a simple but elegant orb design, with no visible controls whatsoever. Instead the device works off of a symbiotic relationship between it and Google phones and tablets, wherein it plays whatever is directed to it from connected devices. In a party or get-together setting, multiple phones can add music and video to a shared community jukebox playing on the Q, which can be connected via HDMI to an existing stereo or to two proprietary speakers that are available seperately. The Nexus Q is available for preorder for $299.99 along with the optional speakers on Google Play now.

It’s something that really needs to be seen to appreciate, so check out the video below to see the device in action and chime in in the comments to let us know what you think!

Source Nexus Q site

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