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LG announces glasses-free Optimus Max 3D

Scott Webster
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LG either doesn’t know how to keep a secret or they are just far too excited over their new smartphones for 2012.  Following closely on the heels of the Optimus L-Style models, Optimus Vu, and Optimus LTE Tag, LG has unveiled their Optimus Max 3D.  As a successor to last year’s Optimus 3D, this smartphone features specs that would otherwise put it on par with today’s high-end Androids.

The Optimus 3D Max will launch in Korea starting in March and then roll out to other markets beginning in Europe.  Arriving with Android 2.3 Gingerbread at the start, the smartphone will receive an upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich shortly after the launch.  We anticipate seeing the phone come to the United States as a successor to the LG Thrill 3D 4G later this spring.

“The Optimus 3D Max was born from LG’s constant efforts to bring user entertainment experience to a higher level,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The introduction of the Optimus 3D last year ushered in a new era for smartphones and Optimus 3D Max is real proof of LG’s commitment to portable 3D entertainment.”

LG Optimus 3D Max features:

  • True Performance Muscle with Latest Mobile Technologies
  • HSPA+ 21Mbps, LG Tag+ (NFC), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
  • HD Converter to offer HD quality on a TV connected through MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link), when transforming Open GL-based 2D games and applications to 3D and viewing Google Earth;
  • True 3D Entertainment Features with Improved 2D-3D Compatibility
  • True Excellence in Design with Slimmer and Lighter Body

Key hardware details for Optimus Max 3D:

  • 1.2GHz Dual-Core processor (OMAP4430)
  • Display: 4.3-inch 3D WVGA Display with Gorilla Glass 2
  • 8GB Internal Storage
  • 1GB Internal Memory
  • Camera: 5MP Dual-lens
  • OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
  • Battery: 1,520 mAh
  • Others: HSPA+ 21Mbps, HDMI connection 2D/3D TV/monitor up to 1080p via MHL, DNLA for wireless connection with TV/PC (3D video also supported), NFC Full Support, LG Tag+

 

[spoiler show=”Show press release”]SEOUL, Feb. 22, 2012 – Following in the footsteps of last year’s glasses-free 3D smartphone, LG Electronics will publicly unveil the Optimus 3D Max at the 2012 Mobile World Congress (MWC). With powerful 3D technology and sleeker design, the Optimus 3D Max provides a complete 3D entertainment platform and marks a big leap forward in the ever-expanding 3D ecosystem.

“The Optimus 3D Max was born from LG’s constant efforts to bring user entertainment experience to a higher level,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The introduction of the Optimus 3D last year ushered in a new era for smartphones and Optimus 3D Max is real proof of LG’s commitment to portable 3D entertainment.”

LG Optimus 3D Max is equipped with diverse innovations and offers users with advancements including:

■ True Performance Muscle with Latest Mobile Technologies
LG Optimus 3D Max is a powerful smartphone in both 2D and 3D mode and a pleasure to view with LG’s exclusive brightened display. 3G’s network speed has been also improved to HSPA+ 21Mbps. LG Tag+ offers advanced NFC (Near Field Communication) capabilities designed to promote greater user convenience. One of its benefits is automatic setting changes which are possible by creating predefined tags that are customized to certain modes such as car-mode, office-mode or sleep-mode. Depending on location, the predefined tags will automatically adjust various phone settings including Wi-Fi, bluetooth, GPS and sound volume.

Beyond its already innovative features, attendees of MWC 2012 will see some of the future benefits that will be made available through a Maintenance Release or an application available on the LG SmartWorld (www.LGsmartworld.com). Additional features include:
– HD Converter to offer HD quality on a TV connected through MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link), when transforming Open GL-based 2D games and applications to 3D and viewing Google Earth;
– Range Finder to calculate the distance between the camera and the subject as well as the dimensions of an object through triangulation;
– Out-focusing Shot to enhance camera quality beyond that of other smartphones through image processing using depth information.

■ True 3D Entertainment Features with Improved 2D-3D Compatibility
Users can convert Google Earth, Google Maps and other road views into 3D using the enhanced 3D Converter. Furthermore, 3D photos and videos captured by the Optimus 3D Max can also be viewed in a single-screen mode in 2D, using the 3D Hot Key mounted on the side of the phone to easily toggle between 2D and 3D. LG also plans to continue expanding video contents, applications and games optimized for the 3D Converter available from the 3D Zone at LG SmartWorld.

■ True Excellence in Design with Slimmer and Lighter Body
The LG Optimus 3D Max’s premium design comes from LG’s commitment to fine details. LG focused on trimming details on the design of the Optimus 3D Max by keeping only the essentials and eliminating everything else. Measuring only 9.6 mm thin and weighing 148 grams, the lean body with metallic and rounded edges incorporates the best 3D features in addition to desirable 2D features. The Optimus 3D Max includes unique 3D-style cubicle icons which users can customize with their own photos through the Icon Customizer.

The Optimus 3D Max will first launch in Korea in March and will gradually roll out in other markets starting in Europe. The device will receive an upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich from Android 2.3 Gingerbread shortly after the launch.

[/spoiler]

 

Key Specifications:

  • Chipset: 1.2GHz Dual-Core processor (OMAP4430)
  • Display: 4.3-inch 3D WVGA Display with Corning? Gorilla? Glass 2
  • Memory: 8GB Internal Storage, 1GB Internal Memory
  • Camera: 5MP Dual-lens
  • OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
  • Battery: 1,520 mAh
  • Others: HSPA+ 21Mbps, HDMI connection 2D/3D TV/monitor up to 1080p via MHL, DNLA for wireless connection with TV/PC (3D video also supported), NFC Full Support, LG Tag+

T-Mobile schedules $149 Galaxy S Blaze 4G for late March

Scott Webster
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T-Mobile has given us a more definite timeline and price for their Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, spilling the details in a late night press release.  Announced back at CES in January, the Galaxy S Blaze 4G will finally make its way into T-Mobile stores in late March.  Price for this guy will be $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and qualified two-year service agreement.

Specifications for the 4G handset include a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor, 3.97-inch Super AMOLED display, a 5-megapixel camera, and a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera.  Powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G comes loaded with DropBox, Evernote, Square, TripIt, Camscanner, LinkedIn, TeleNav GPS Navigator, and a few Samsung and T-Mobile apps.

T-Mobile Announces March Availability for Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G

The latest addition to T-Mobile’s fastest 4G device lineup, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G keeps consumers entertained and connected 

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Feb. 22, 2012 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.,1today confirmed the upcoming March availability of the Samsung Galaxy S® Blaze™ 4G, exclusively from T-Mobile®. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G is the latest addition to the successful Galaxy S line of products, and T-Mobile’s newest fast 4G smartphone to take advantage of 4G (HSPA+42) technology, providing customers with the ability to browse the Web faster than the average home Internet2 connection while on the go.

Consumers are increasingly demanding more from their smartphones — keeping them entertained, staying connected with loved ones and enabling them to complete more tasks using a single device. A recent T-Mobile survey3 found 79 percent of smartphone users are less likely to carry other technology devices, such as cameras, laptops and GPS devices, when they have their smartphone.

T-Mobile’s newest 4G smartphone offers a variety of features and applications to help consumers be entertained and have access to the information they need when they need it. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G entertainment offerings make it easy for T-Mobile customers to stream their favorite movies on Netflix®, enjoy live or on-demand TV programs on T-Mobile® TV in mobile HD4 or download a popular movie or TV show using Samsung Media Hub. Additionally, the smartphone features TeleNav GPS Navigator, which provides hands-free, voice-guided turn-by-turn driving directions, real-time traffic alerts, full-color 3-D moving maps and local alerts, helping customers get to where they need to go. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G also comes preloaded with a customized version of the Yelp mobile application, featuring the ability to save profiles so users can keep preferences the same with one touch in any city, making it easy to find and read reviews for local places to eat, shop, drink and play.

Also pre-loaded on the device, the T-Mobile 4GPro App Pack offers an aggregation of key business applications, such as DropBox, Evernote, Square, TripIt, Camscanner and LinkedIn, helping busy consumers be even more productive while balancing their professional and personal lives.

“The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is loaded with rich features and services to keep consumers entertained and connected virtually anywhere they want to go,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. “Paired with T-Mobile’s fast 4G network and our unlimited data plans, we’re making it easy for consumers to enjoy the benefits of 4G experiences at a price they can afford.”

Featuring a sleek and stylish form factor, the smartphone comes in a carbon black color and runs on Android™ 2.3 Gingerbread. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G also features aSnapdragon™ S3 processor by Qualcomm® with 1.5 GHz dual-core CPUs and a beautiful 3.97-inch Super AMOLED™ touch screen providing consumers with a rich experience watching their favorite movie or TV show on the device.

The Galaxy S Blaze 4G also makes it easy to connect and share photos and video with loved ones. It features a 720p HD video recorder, 5-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, flash and advanced shooting modes, as well as a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat.

Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is expected to be available at T-Mobile retail stores, select dealers and retailers nationwide, and online at http://www.t-mobile.com starting late March. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G is expected to cost $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate card, with a two-year service agreement and qualifying Classic voice and data plan. For more information, visit http://galaxy-s.t-mobile.com/samsung-galaxy-blaze.

ZTE Mimosa X is first NVIDIA smartphone with Icera modem

Scott Webster
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NVIDIA and ZTE have together unveiled the first smartphone to boast both a Tegra 2 processor and Icera modem.  Called the Mimosa X, the phone runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and powered by a dual-core CPU, the handset boasts a 4.3-inch qHD (960×540) display, 4GB internal storage (microSD expansion), 5-megapixel camera, and  front-facing VGA camera.  Although pricing and carrier details have yet to come to light, the Mimosa X is expected to arrive in the second quarter of this year.

Drilling down to the Icera modem a bit, we did not anticipate seeing one of these until next year so we’re equally surprised and pleased.  As to what this means for average users it will equate to lower cost smartphones with high-end performance and wallet friendly prices. Potentially this may mean $150-$199 off-contract price tags before too long.

NVIDIA® Icera® soft-modem chipsets deliver high-performance communication engines for cellular products. Their unique system architecture enables the highest user throughput and advanced modem features with the smallest footprints and the lowest costs. This gives you a powerful solution for creating smaller, faster, and more affordable high-technology devices.

Mimosa X features

  • Tegra 2 dual-core CPU with GeForce GPU
  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 4.3-inch qHD (960×540) display
  • 5MP rear camera
  • VGA front camera
  • 4 GB storage (microSD expansion for 32GB)
  • A2DP Bluetooth, Dolby audio, DLNA video
  • Dual microphones, Built-in gyroscope

Icera 450 platform features:

  • HSPA+/3G/2G multimode
  • Multiband HSPA+ Cat 18 (28Mbs)
  • HSUPA Cat 6 (5.7Mbps), Cat 7 (11Mbps) HSUPA upgradable
  • Quad-band GPRS/EDGE
  • Full 3G and 2G voice
  • Radio Interface Layer (RIL) for Google’s Android™ operating system
  • MIPI high-speed interface to multiple leading application processors
  • Major PCB savings due to integrated baseband and integrated RF chips
  • 3GPP Release 7 features inc MIMO and higher order modulation to enhance performance and improve spectral efficiency
  • IceClear® interference-cancellation technology to improve cell edge performance
  • Targeted for high-performance HSPA+ Android-based smartphones

Barnes & Noble announces $199 Nook Tablet, $169 Nook Color

Scott Webster
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Barnes & Noble, not afraid to take the fight directly at Amazon, has today announced a $200 version of their Nook Tablet.  What’s the difference between this and the $249 model announced last year?  Rather than 16GB internal storage capacity, this guy comes with 8GB of memory for holding your books,apps, and magazines.  Aside from that, this should be more than enough for the average e-reader and entry-level tablet user.  Shifting gears just a bit, the company’s first “tablet”, the Nook Color, has seen a nice price drop, dipping down to a very attractive $169.99 price point.

Barnes & Noble Introduces NOOK Tablet™ – 8GB For Incredibly Low Price of $199
New Addition to Hot-Selling, Highly Rated NOOK Tablet Line Offers Fastest, Lightest, Most Powerful Tablet with the Best in Reading and Entertainment, Now in 8GB, at an Amazing Value
Award-Winning NOOK Color™ Now Offered at its Lowest Price Ever – $169

New York, New York – February 21, 2012 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today expanded its portfolio of bestselling NOOK® devices with the introduction of NOOK Tablet – with 8GB of memory, a tremendous value for the company’s fastest and lightest tablet at just $199. NOOK Tablet – 8GB version offers reading and mobile entertainment enthusiasts another great option in the NOOK family of devices. In addition, the company’s highly popular NOOK Color just became an even greater value at $169.

“For any customer who likes to read digitally, watch movies or TV shows, browse the web, or help their kids read and learn through interactive books and apps, our new $199 NOOK Tablet with 8GB is the best product value on the market,” said William Lynch, Chief Executive Office of Barnes & Noble. “NOOK Tablet is the highest-rated wireless media tablet in the 7-inch class, ultra-portable at under a pound, offers our exclusive VividView™ screen technology, and since its introduction this holiday has received rave reviews from customers about all its great features. We’re pleased to now offer customers the ability to experience NOOK Tablet’s unmatched content experience for only $199.”

The newest member of the NOOK Tablet family offers the great features of top-selling NOOK Tablet – 16GB, but with 8GB of on-board memory, 512MB of RAM and a lower cost of just $199. NOOK Tablet – 8GB version includes all of these great features also available on NOOK Tablet – 16GB ($249):

  • A highly tuned 1GHz dual-core processor for streaming video and lightning-fast Web browsing so customers can surf their favorite sites, and built-in email to stay easily connected with friends and family
  • Breakthrough battery life, with 11.5 hours of reading time or nine hours of video viewing
  • With on-board storage plus convenient microSD memory expansion, customers have ample space for their reading and entertainment content, regardless of Wi-Fi availability
  • The world’s most advanced VividView display for viewing content, with 16 million colors and a resolution purity that’s simply gorgeous
  • Popular movies, TV shows and music from top services including Netflix, Hulu Plus™, Flixster, Pandora®, Rhapsody®, Grooveshark, MOG and many more.
  • Thousands of top-rated, high-quality NOOK Apps, all optimized for NOOK Tablet’s ultra-responsive 7-inch color touchscreen, in categories including Games, Kids, Travel, Education, Lifestyle & Interest, News & Weather, Social, Productivity and others. Favorites including Cut the Rope, Disney Publishing’s It’s a Small World and more are coming soon to the robust NOOK Apps catalog.
  • Barnes & Noble’s award-winning reading experience, featuring more than 2.5 million digital books, periodicals, children’s books and more, including:
    • NOOK Newsstand™: An expansive collection of more than 450 digital periodical titles, which includes the largest digital collection of top 100 magazines available for subscription and single copy purchase. Colorful interactive magazines offer Barnes & Noble’s ArticleView™, animated page turns and smooth pinch, zoom and panning. Many special edition NOOK Magazines™ feature videos, quizzes, image galleries and more.
    • NOOK Kids™: More than 1,400 interactive children’s picture books, some featuring animation and engaging activities, and more than 12,000 chapter books. With Read and Record™, customers can use NOOK Tablet’s built-in microphone to record and save their reading of any NOOK Kids picture books so children can listen to their favorite storytellers anytime.
    • NOOK Comics and graphic novels: A vast collection of full-color comics, graphic novels and kids’ comics in high resolution and the largest digital collection of Marvel’s graphic novels available through a third party, as well as other titles from leading publishers including Archie, IDW and Dynamite. Through a partnership with VIZ Media, LLC, the largest publisher of anime and manga in North America, NOOK customers can access more than 30 series, featuring nearly 430 volumes.
    • Books and more: Continuously expanded NOOK Store™ with the vast majority of books available for $9.99 or less. Barnes & Noble’s digital book collection includes PagePerfect™ NOOK Books™ featuring cookbooks, craft and art books rendered with rich precision to retain all the beauty of their stunning print versions, and enhanced reading with PDF thumbnail page views, and image pinch, zoom and pan in books and PDFs.
    • Discover and socialize: Learn what to read next from Barnes& Noble’s knowledgeable booksellers with personalized recommendations, or connect through NOOK Friends™ to share thoughts, lend books through the exclusive LendMe® technology and more via email and sites like Facebook.
    • Continuous reading: Read what you love, anywhere you like™ on NOOK devices and with FREE NOOK Reading Apps. Sync your library, last page read, bookmarks, etc. across all of your devices through NOOK Cloud.
  • Sleek and thin with a soft touch back design, and lightweight at under a pound (14.1 oz.), making it easy to carry in a handbag, briefcase, backpack or suit jacket pocket for reading and entertainment on-the-go.

Customers can, as always, access their personal NOOK Library™ through the free, reliable and secure NOOK Cloud™ service, which also powers the seamless integration and synchronization between devices, as well as NOOK’s best-in-class shopping experience and social features.

Says Lynch, “NOOK Tablet, NOOK Color and NOOK Simple Touch™ represent the highest-quality portfolio of reading and entertainment products on the market at the best value. Whether it’s movies, music and apps on-the-go that you crave, or a simple, immersive reading experience, we offer great products and more choices than ever before with our product portfolio, starting at just $99.”

NOOK Color: Now $169

The highly acclaimed NOOK Color, offering access to top video and music services, popular apps, comics and more, is now available at a new low price of just $169, starting today. The first Reader’s Tablet, NOOK Color combines an award-winning reading experience with tablet essentials including apps, Web and email. NOOK Color customers can download Netflix to watch movies and TV shows, access a wide array of books, periodicals and comics, enjoy top music services and thousands of apps, browse the easy-to-use, social and streamlined NOOK Store.

Availability

NOOK Tablet – 8GB version is available for purchase today for $199 at http://www.nook.com and in Barnes & Noble stores, and will be available in leading retailers including Best Buy, Target and Walmart in the coming weeks. NOOK Color is now available in Barnes & Noble stores and http://www.nook.com for $169. Experience NOOK Tablet, NOOK Color and NOOK Simple Touch at http://www.nook.com or at the NOOK Digital Shops™, which feature the full portfolio of NOOK digital devices and FREE NOOK Reading Apps™, or displays in one of Barnes & Noble’s nearly 700 bookstores and other leading retailers. Barnes & Noble offers Always Free NOOK Supportin all of its neighborhood bookstores, with more than 40,000 NOOKsellers across the country ready to assist customers with setting up their NOOK devices or choosing their next great read.

U.S. Cellular gets the Samsung Galaxy S II

Scott Webster
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U.S. Cellular has become the latest carrier to announce the Samsung Galaxy S II as part of their Android lineup. Stopping shy of giving us a specific launch date, we do know all the details that go into the U.S. Cellular iteration of the popular flagship phone.  Specs include a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera (LED flash), 16GB internal storage, and 3G connectivity.  Pricing will be $229.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate however those of you who trade in an existing smartphone could qualify for up to $150 credit.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S II COMING SOON TO U.S. CELLULAR

Android-Powered Smartphone Delivers High-Speed Multi-tasking Capabilities

CHICAGO (Feb. 21, 2012) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Galaxy S® II. The Android™-powered smartphone is designed to deliver advanced multimedia features with a powerhouse 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. The 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display shows brilliant colors, providing a vivid and crisp viewing experience. The Galaxy S II runs on U.S. Cellular’s high-speed nationwide 3G network, which has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier. It will be available for $229.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate.

The Galaxy S II is ideal for the multi-tasker who also wants easy access to entertainment wherever they go. You can quickly update your calendar and browse the web to read the latest news, check the weather or get driving directions. The multimedia functions allow you and your family to keep up with your favorite TV shows and keep the kids entertained while you’re traveling with HD Games. With its superior screen display, camera, webcam and access to thousands of helpful applications in the Android Market™, customers will be able to get more done throughout the day.

“The Galaxy S II is the ultimate phone for people looking to simplify and organize their lives,” said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. “The features combined with U.S. Cellular’s unique benefits, like our Battery Swap, make it the go-to device for customers who depend on their smartphone to keep up with their busy schedules.”

Highlighted features:

  • 1.2 GHz dual-core processor (Samsung Exynos C210)
  • Powered by Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread)
  • 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED Flash
  • Swype™ technology for quick text, picture and video messaging
  • 16 GB user memory – supports up to 32GB microSD™ cards

Smartphone enthusiasts who switch to U.S. Cellular get unique benefits, like new phones faster without continuously signing contracts, free Overage Protection and can participate in U.S. Cellular’s Trade-In Program. Through the U.S. Cellular Trade-In Program, customers can receive up to $150 on qualifying smartphones by trading in their current phone.

U.S. Cellular offers customers the only points-based rewards program in the industry to get benefits for doing simple things like paying their wireless bill on time, adding a line or referring friends and family. Points can be used for new phones faster, additional lines, devices, accessories and ringtones. It’s one of the reasons U.S. Cellular has the happiest customers in wireless.

For more information about all of U.S. Cellular’s deals, plans and phones, and other restrictions on these offers, visit any U.S. Cellular store, go to uscellular.com or check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.

The Samsung Galaxy S II will be available for $229.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. 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.

LG Optimus LTE Tag announced, comes with NFC tags

AndroidGuys
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LG has finally announced the successor to their famous LG Optimus line ahead of MWC which is known as LG Optimus LTE Tag. “Tag” actually represents the NFC capability the phone is offering, along with LG Tag+ program, which works with NFC and you can stick it anywhere you want, according to the environment. Like if you put it on your car, it will disable the ability to send text messages or calling while you are driving or it puts your device on silent mode when you are in a meeting or at work etc.

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LG announces Galaxy Note competitor — LG Optimus Vu

AndroidGuys
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Recently, LG teased us with their upcoming flagship device that will be launched as a challenger to the famous Galaxy Note. It’s known to us as the LG Optimus Vu. Mobile World Congress is around the corner, but LG has officially announced it ahead of the mega event, and it’s yet another beautiful device from the manufacturer. It’s the second 5-inch smartphone from a Korean company, first was from Samsung and now from LG. Samsung’s Galaxy Note is an extraordinary device but the reason you might pick the Optimus Vu is 4:3 aspect ratio. However, the device will go to Korea first then it will land in the USA.

It will be running Gingerbread, but LG has said they will update it to Android 4.0 with-in three months after the launch. LG will showcase the phone at the MWC. Anyway, have a look at the specs:

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Huawei Honor (U8860) Review

Scott Webster
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What’s to like: Fans of stock Android experience will enjoy the Huawei Honor’s simple interface that sits atop Android 2.3 Gingerbread.  The battery pretty much delivers on its promises of a considerably longer standby and talk times.

What’s to be desired: A U.S. carrier would be great however we’re left buying the costly smartphone unlocked. The 8-megapixel camera is great on paper but the pictures aren’t on par with competition.

Out of the box

In the age of 4.3-inch and 4.5-inch smartphones the 4.0-inch Huawei Honor feels refreshing in hand. Although a little bit thicker than most phones in its class, it stays on the good side of clunky.  The (Elegant White) white looks sharp and classy but the plastic battery cover reminds me of some of Samsung’s devices.  I suppose, however, that when you’re trying to keep weight down that these are the easiest corners to cut.  Note that the Honor does come in six colors: Glossy Black, Textured Black, Burgundy, Elegant White, Vibrant Yellow, and Cherry Blossom Pink.  The silver rim that frames the display looks sharp and distinguishes the front from the rear, a minor but noticeable design choice.

Remove battery cover and battery to access SIM, microSD

The battery cover comes of very easily but doesn’t feel cheap or as if it will fall off on its own.  That’s a good thing though as you’ll have to remove the battery if you want to get to the microSD card slot.  While you are in there you might also notice that the SIM card isn’t exactly the easiest thing to remove.  Thank goodness we set those and forget those.

The volume rocker is on the left hand side of the device and took some getting used to but it’s pretty responsive.  The power button and 3.5mm headphone jack are both on the top whereas the micro-USB charger port is along the bottom.

At a Glance

Powering on the phone, the 480×854 display looks very bright and clear, and icons seem to pop off the screen. Capable of delivering 16 million colors, it’s as good as most Android users would come to expect.  I really dig the minimal amount of custom UI that Huawei puts on the Honor and the Android 2.3 Gingerbread responds well. It’s worth noting that the handset is already on the list of devices ready to receive its 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update.

Quick access to common apps

The unlock screen reminds me of recent HTC Sense UI where users can slide the circle to various icons for quick launch.  In Huawei’s case, the handset gives direct access to the phone, camera, call log, and text messages.  The pull down notification allows for quick toggling of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, auto-rotate and other often used settings.

Apps

The Honor comes loaded with four keyboards and each has its own strengths and appeal.  Depending on what kind of a mobile typing habit you have, you may enjoy the Android keyboard, Huawei IME, MobiDiv, and TouchPal keyboards.  Of course, if you are a Swiftkey or a beta user you can still download your faves.

In terms of applications, the Honor is loaded with all your standard Google fare, including Android Market, Gmail, Maps, and YouTube.  Additionally, users will find Facebook, Twitter, Cloud+ Drive, a backup application, Safety Guard and a few others. Given that this model does not come with any particular carrier, the bloatware is rather light.

The camera performs okay but it’s not on the same level as other 8-megapixel models we’ve played with.  Would like a dedicated camera button here but that’s not a dealbreaker.  Capturing video at 720p HD looks pretty good but it’s obviously not a match for 1080p HD.  I really enjoyed looking at the images and videos on my phone but found that they didn’t translate quite as nicely to a monitor or larger display.  Clarity and sharpness just seemed a bit off for my liking.

In terms of overall performance, the 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor was certainly impressive.  Swiping, animations, opening and closing apps, and jumping to the camera seemed to be as fast as one would expect.   Heavy enthusiasts might not be fond of a single-core processor however it’s more than enough for the average user.  Opening up a bunch of apps, loading social network stuff, and hopping around in the browser proved to be no problem for the Honor.

Huawei definitely has an uphill battle in the United States if they want to take on players like Samsung and HTC.  Having said that, I’ve become increasingly more open to considering something out of their camp as a device of my own.  Looking back at what was announced at CES and ahead to MWC, it’s pretty safe to say that they are not going anywhere.  Unfortunately, they will need the help of a carrier or two in the U.S. if they want to have even moderate success.  That’s perhaps one of the biggest gripes I had here as it’s too expensive to buy on its own and add your SIM card. Granted one could go with a provider like Cricket Wireless (Mercury) but it’s not available in my neck of the woods.

Verizon announces $199 Droid 4 for February 10

Scott Webster
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Verizon today announced that the next model in their ever-expanding Droid lineup, the Droid 4, will arrive in but a few short days.  Expected to hit retail stores and the internet on February 10th, the Motorola Droid 4 will come with a $199 price tag and two-year service agreement.  As a reminder, the Droid 4 is a 4G LTE-ready handset with a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 4.0-inch qHD display, 8-megapixel camera, and a 5-row sliding QWERTY keyboard.  Measuring less than one half inch in thickness, the smartphone is currently billed as the “thinnest and most powerful 4G QWERTY smartphone” on the market.

Of course you’ll need to sign the requisite contract and accompanying data plans to get the $200 sticker.  This means a Verizon talk plan beginning at$39.99 monthly access and a data plan of $30/month (2GB) or higher.  We hear there is also going to be some incentive in the data plan, much like previous promotions.

DROID 4 by Motorola Ready to Work and Play on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network
Power, Speed and Reliability Get the Job Done

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The award winning DROID 4 by Motorola will be available to handle even the most demanding lifestyles starting Feb. 10 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online atwww.verizonwireless.com.  Introduced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the DROID 4 is the thinnest and most powerful 4G QWERTY smartphone measuring at less than half an inch thin.  DROID 4 not only features a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, but also a five-row QWERTY keyboard with a PC-like layout and edge-lit keys for fast, precise typing, even in the dark.  Powered by America’s fastest, most reliable 4G network, DROID 4 customers will have access to 4G LTE coverage in 195 markets covering more than 200 million people.
Additional features

  • Verizon Wireless 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 LTE Mobile Broadband coverage areas
  • Android™ 2.3.5 Gingerbread, to be upgraded to Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 4.0-inch qHD display with scratch and scrape resistant glass
  • Government-grade encryption (FIPS 140-2) for email, calendar and contacts; preloaded with Citrix® Receiver™ for Android (available in webtop) for desktop virtualization and access
  • 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture
  • Front-facing camera for video chat
  • 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot supporting up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices

Business Ready

DROID 4 is designed to help customers get more done.  Business professionals can impress their audience by presenting to a conference room full of potential customers in a snap by plugging the DROID 4 into an HDTV and presenting directly from the phone.  Professionals can also combine the DROID 4 with the Lapdock 500 and its 14-inch display to create a full-featured mobile office.  They can download documents, make edits using Lapdock’s full keyboard and email the updated documents to colleagues or customers.  The Lapdock even features a built-in webcam so customers can attend virtual meetings and manage their business face-to-face.

The Smart Actions app on the DROID 4 helps automate everyday tasks and optimizes battery efficiency by letting customers create rules, such as automatically setting the phone to vibrate during work hours or dimming the display at a specific battery level.

Business professionals can leave their laptops behind and use the MotoCast™ app to remotely stream documents, videos, music and pictures from their work or home computers to their handset.  The remote access of MotoCast eliminates the need to store documents on the handset as everything is stored on their office laptop.

Pricing and availability

  • DROID 4 by Motorola will be available on Feb. 10 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online atwww.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
  • The Lapdock 500 is available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online for $299.97.
  • Customers that purchase a DROID 4 will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan beginning at$39.99 monthly access and a smartphone data package starting at $30 monthly access for 2 GB of data.

For more 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. Follow @VZWnews on Twitter for the latest news on Verizon Wireless.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 108.7 million total wireless connections, including 92.2 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC.  Google, and Android are trademarks of Google, Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.   © 2012 Motorola Mobility, Inc. All rights reserved.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus [Review]

AndroidGuys
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0

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus (SGN) is the best smartphone on the market today – bar none.

After living with this phone for almost a month now, it has not only met my expectations but have exceeded them in almost every way.  I will spare all of the tech specs as the SGN has been in the public eye for quite some time now, and I will largely review the phone on its day-to-day merits for real world use.

My must have apps are: Google Voice, K-9 for work email, AndChat for always-on IRC connectivity, Plume for Tweeting, Catch Notes,  Facebook, and all other Google services.

The first thing you will notice about the SGN is that it looks like a smaller brother to its Honeycomb forerunners, i.e. no physical buttons.  No, Android 4.0 has eschewed the buttons for a cleaner look and a better way for landscape to portrait screen orientation that moves the buttons with the phone.

There is a downside however, for those who depended on the ‘magnifying glass’ button for search it has been replaced by a Google search box on the main screen.

The second thing?  The Screen is HD Super AMOLED.  This.  Thing.  Is.  For.  Real.  I won’t bore you with the specs but here they are if you need confirmation.  Just before getting the SGN, I briefly flirted with an iPhone 4 as a backup phone and the SGN makes the Retina Display look second rate at best.

The viewing angles of this device are marvelous as is the resolution: a proper 1280×720 pixels.  Movies look gorgeous, especially those from the PIXAR family and applications look vibrant and almost have a 3D like quality to them.

As with most of the Samsung Galaxy phones, the lock screen will be familiar and the volume buttons, but there is some strange placement afoot.  Namely the charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of the phone.

I used to have the Samsung Fascinate and they were on top of that device.  The top is a much better place to have any cables/wires coming from as they will not get in the way of putting the phone in normal portrait mode, like say, in a windshield holder.

The power button is on the upper left side all by its lonesome.  The actual heft of the device is one that is much lighter than it looks but that’s to blame/credit on the plastic body.

While I do prefer the design and the materials of the iPhone 4, I was always very deliberate when using it because I was afraid of dropping it.

I do not like having cases on my phones so while the SGN does not feel like it will shatter from a three foot fall, I still handle it very gingerly.  But even with the larger size the phone feels very thin and light and not as large as my old Motorola Droid X or my very old HTC HD2.

 

Some other niggles with quality and build is the back battery door.  It is very thin and flimsy and I have already bent one of the tabs on the bottom of that keeps it locked.  So be very careful while exchanging batteries.  Which brings me to my next point.  You will be changing out the battery if you are a normal to heavy user.  Regularly.  When I got my phone, I immediately bought the battery charger that came with an extra battery.  Then I bought two more batteries from a Twitter friend of mine who bought the extended batteries for his and didn’t need the standard ones anymore.  I was thinking of the extended batts but didn’t want the extra thickness.  So I now have four batteries total that I keep in a very thin case that can fit into any jacket and can go for about two days without any external charging.  The Verizon 4G is spotty at best and I have only used it a few times, but mainly just to check the speed.  But boy, is it FAST!  I have seen downloads as fast as 35mbps and it can make your SGN double as a hand warmer when activated.  I do have PDAnet installed so I occasionally use it for wired tethering, and in this case is very helpful since phone can be charged at the same time.

While trying to get as much battery life as possible, I sometimes turned off the auto-sync, but what’s the upside to a smartphone that is not constantly getting data and updates?  So now I turn it off only when I am at my computer to not duplicate email alerts, etc.

Okay, now for the software.  Android 4.0 AKA Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) is everything I wanted in a smartphone.  While I have been recommending Android to many people, I still tell some to get an iPhone if they just “want it to work”.  And ICS is the first version of the software that truly feels like production software and not a Beta that is meant to be forgiven from the onset.  Just like a proper desktop OS, the addition of folders has saved screen real estate and helps organize applications for easy look up.  And now that my Motorola XOOM was blessed with ICS, I have a double helping of goodness.

The browser is finally like a true mobile version of Chrome.  The menu button gives context for bookmarks and sharing options and even a new feature “Request desktop site” as well as the way to access the Settings.  The address bar button gives you options for “add a tab” and bookmarks.  You can also view other browser sessions as thumbnails with the same button.   Also, you can no longer just long press the screen to add widgets.  These are now found along with all of the other applications just a swipe away.  Long presses now just give you a way to change wallpapers.

The notifications are now easier to delete as they can now be swiped away from the window shade, while the screen is locked.  This makes it much easier to interact with the phone when just looking at the screen for the notification LED to blink.

As far as I can tell, the phone feature is very good.  I can hear other callers loud and clear and have had no complaints from others, however the speakerphone sounds muffled and a bit thin.  The new phone dialpad UI is very Tron-like, courtesy of Android’s new Roboto fonts.

 

 

The camera is good and very fast but not as good as the Samsung Galaxy II’s but since I still carry a Canon ELPH 300HS, this is not an issue with me.  And I am never thrilled to see a soft shutter button.  But it can be used from the lock screen now: left for Camera, right to Unlock.  I don’t use my SGN for viewing movies regularly (just to show others how good the screen is) and I don’t use it for MP3 listening it is a competent media player but not a primary use for me.

This last feature that I have used a lot for this article is the ability to easily take screenshots.  Just hold the power button and volume down rocker simultaneously and voila!  The screenshot saves into its own Screenshot folder in your gallery and it’s very easy to show others what is going right and wrong with your phone as well as post pictures like I have done.  No more rooting your phone and sticking your tongue out and holding your arm out to get a decent screenshot.

I can honestly say that after using and owning many Android phones, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is the best phone out there right now.  And while a few may come along this year to compete against it, the SGN will still be at the top of the list for me.
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