Latest Reports Indicate Upcoming HTC “Endeavor C2″ Smartphone Is Possibly The Successor To The One X

Well friends, it looks like we’re about to see another HTC device arrive sometime later this year. While many of you are thinking this will likely be a brand-new device, it’s looking more and more like a refresh of a really good device already on the market. Reports are indicating the new device will be codenamed “Endeavor C2? and will include a faster Tegra 3 processor clocked at 1.7GHz, better battery and urBeats headphones. Additional leaks include the upcoming body of the device being identical to existing HTC devices, which also includes the ability to use current accessories as opposed to launching new accessories. Sound a little familiar to you? Well it should— the original HTC One X smartphone was codenamed “Endeavor”, before its unveiling at MWC earlier in the year. All in all with a fairly similar profile as the original, this upcoming device points to what looks to be a supercharged version of the One X that will be called the One X+ and similar to HTC’s strategy in the past with its Sensation and Sensation XE devices.

The device won’t skimp on software either. Stuff
reports the “Endeavor C2? will utilize HTC’s brand new ClearVoice technology to improve call quality and will also be the first phone to run HTC Watch 2, the latest version of HTC’s video-on-demand offering. Sounds like those two features will compliment the rumored Sense 4.1 and quite possibly, Jelly Bean mighty well upon the device’s release— which should be around the beginning of October in the U.K. if all holds up.
Try to contain your excitement there folks. Try to contain your excitement there.

View the original article here

Read More

Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE Rumored to Launch on Sprint on August 19th

Rumor has it that Sprint is planning on launching the Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE next Sunday on the 19th of August. Motorola officially announced the phone about two weeks ago claiming a Sprint launch in the “upcoming weeks.” If you’re not familiar with this device, here’s a quick rundown on its specs:

• 4.3-inch ColorBoost display (assuming qHD – 960 x 540)
• 1.5 GHz dual-core processor (assuming the Snapdragon S4)
• 1GB of RAM
• 8MP rear camera with 1080p video capture
• Front-facing HD camera
• micro HDMI with mirroring
• Sprint ID, offering an innovative way to personalize an Android smartphone with apps, widgets, ringtones and more all, in a single download
• NFC
• LTE

Minus the resolution of the device, everything else is top tier when it comes to specs. With physical QWERTY-sliders still popular to many people, I’m sure this device will be welcomed. Does this impending device appeal to any of you guys?

View the original article here

Read More

The Coolpix S800, the first Android based camera from Nikon

It looks like the popular camera company Nikon will soon be announcing their first Android based camera. The model will be dubbed as the Coolpix S800 (S800c), and the specs that you can expect on this will be:

• 25-250 mm 
• lens3.5" OLED screen
• The camera runs all Google Play apps
• The camera will probably run Android 2.3
• Built-in GPS
• Built-in Wi-Fi

I think this would be great and a smart move by Nikon. Perhaps this could be a first step into seeing some really powerful Android-based camera’s in the near future. Maybe even DSLR’s?

The proposed announcement of this device is on August 22nd and we’ll be sure to relay more information as soon as we know.

View the original article here

Read More

False alarm; Motorola will not be releasing a new 4G LTE device this friday

Earlier today we reported that Motorola posted a teaser on its Facebook site indicating a new device coming Friday. While everyone assumed it would be the Motorola RAZR HD due to the numerous leaked photos, it turns out the post on Facebook was actually just a game. Becki Leonard, a spokesperson for Motorola, released a statement: “We’re sorry for the confusion, but it’s a Facebook game asking people to guess a current smartphone and not meant to come across as a new phone.”

It was an easy mistake to make as the post was quite ambiguous to begin with. It asked people to “guess the smartphone” and that clues would be revealed each day until it would ultimately be unveiled on Friday. When Facebook commenters started throwing out the RAZR HD, Becki Leonard denied the rumors and stated, “It’s a phone already on the market. It’s which current smartphone is this?”

I’m sure this news will sadden some folks as the RAZR HD has been an anticipated device from Motorola. Hopefully news of the RAZR HD’s release will leak out soon, and we’ll be sure to inform you as soon as we know.

View the original article here

Read More

Music streaming Spotify app now available for Amazon’s Kindle Fire

The music streaming service Spotify has released a version dedicated to Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Spotify is a streaming music service that gives you access to millions of songs and will be welcomed to the popular 7-inch tablet. You can pay a fee of $9.99 to access its premium features such as being able to listen to music with out the need of an internet connection. Other features include:
Access to millions of songsListen offline – no Internet connection required (Spotify Premium members only)Share music with your friendsCreate and sync playlistsSend the music you’re enjoying to Last.fm & Facebook
The actual app download is free so go on and head over to the source link if you’re interested!

View the original article here

Read More

Flexible Batteries Promise Thinner And Lighter Electronics

Flexible electronics that can be mildly-bended seems to be part of the future in mobile devices. A couple of months back, we reported on Samsung trademarking “Youm” for their flexible AMOLED displays. It’s no secret that Samsung has been working on flexible screens for quite some time now, and it wouldn’t surprise me if other companies are on the same track. Flexible devices are now just one step closer as Keon Jae Lee at the Korean Advanced Institute Of Science And Technology has created a solid-state flexible battery that retains its energy level when folded or bended much like the flexible AMOLED displays.

As you can see from the video below, the battery is a thin film-like material that is being bent while its voltage output isn’t reduced. While this is huge progress for future flexible electronics, a timetable for widespread consumer use is still unknown and will probably stay that way for quite some time.

Either way, it’s new and something to be excited for, don’t you think? What do you guys think about flexible and bendable devices? It would certainly be nice to have a device that would be that durable. We’ll all have to be patient until this technology is perfected and ultimately comes into fruition.

You can watch the short video demonstrating the battery after the break.

View the original article here

Read More

Toshiba Thrive Gets Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich Ahead of Schedule

The original Toshiba Thrive 10-inch tablet was expected to get an update to Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich sometime this fall, but a tasty surprise showed up today for Thrive owners. A post on Toshiba’s Thrive forums confirms that ICS is indeed now rolling out, significantly ahead of schedule. Even though Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is the flavor of the month, it’s nice to see Toshiba pushing forward quicker than expected.

Not much of a changelog was posted:

Release 4.0.4 Highlights:

• Improved video and audio performance
• Improved camera functions
• Improved signal strength and connectivity

If you own a Thrive, check for the over-the-air update on your tablet by tapping Apps
, Service Station, then Check for Updates and let us know how it goes!

View the original article here

Read More

AT&T&39's shared data plans available Aug. 23, online tool helps choose the one for you

AT&T today announced that its new shared data plans will be available starting Aug. 23. The new plans are not -- repeat, not -- mandatory. So if you have one of those grandfathered unlimited data plans now, you'll can still have it on Aug. 23. Here's the breakdown of what the plans will cost you:

Amount of data in plan  Cost for data  Cost for each device  Base total
1GB                             $40                 $45                          $85
4GB                             $70                 $40                          $110
6GB                             $90                 $35                          $125
10GB                           $120               $30                          $150
15GB                           $160              $30                          $190
20GB                           $200               $30                          $230


So, for example, if you had two smartphones on a 6-gigabyte plan, you'd pay $160 a month.
AT&T's also rigged up a little tool that will help you figure out which of these shared data "buckets" would be right for you. (Hit the link below to check it out.)

View the original article here

Read More

Motorola And Verizon Send Out Questionaires To Select Verizon FIOS Customers, Tries To Gauge Feedback Of New Toy On The Way

It’s no secret that Verizon has major intentions to bring its FIOS service to Android devices. We first had a glimpse of this notion when Verizon announced its FIOS app for smartphones and tablets. Then we saw the always Verizon-friendly brand Motorola try to sneak out an Android TV tablet for TV rooms. Now there is actual proof indicating a WiFi-only tablet is on the way for Verizon FIOS subscribers. Apparently FIOS subscribers were sent a survey recently which sought some opinions and feedback of a new device which “may be available in the future”.  This device will feature Android 2.3 (sighs)– while allowing users to run a full assortment of apps and of course the ability to stream certain channels. All in all, all signs point to the Corvair finally becoming a reality.

Of course Motorola and Verizon are still trying to see how people feel about the device and whether it’s necessary or not. My guess is that many (if not all) subscribers wouldn’t mind having a new toy to play with. Let’s hope we see this thing sooner than later.

View the original article here

Read More

Samsung offering buyback program for old phones if you buy a Galaxy device

If you are interested in getting your hands on a new Samsung Galaxy device, like the Samsung Galaxy S III or Samsung Galaxy Note, and could use some funds to help with the purchase, Samsung may have just what you need. Samsung recently announced a new buyback program via their Facebook page. You just provide information on the type of phone you are trading in, purchase a new Samsung device, send in your old phone, and Samsung promises you’ll receive a check within 30 days. It does appear the offer will apply retroactively to at least some purchases as Samsung indicates you only need to have your receipt ready.

A quick check of what Samsung is offering looks like they may be offering about two-thirds what you can get by selling your device yourself on eBay. That may be enough for some people who don’t want to deal with the hassle of selling their old phone. There are other buyback programs one can use to trade in their old phone, so it may be worth shopping around.

View the original article here

Read More

HTC Sense 4.1 Leaked For International HTC One X, Based On Android 4.0.4

When HTC announced the One series of phones last February, Sense 4.0 was being hailed as a huge step toward a lighter, less laggy manufacturer skin that was closer to vanilla Android with some UI improvements. Though Sense 4.0 is significantly better than past versions, it still contains some bottlenecks (home screen, live wallpaper, and app drawer lag) and UI quirks (unsightly menu bar for legacy apps).

Looks like HTC is on the case, however, as the leaked Sense 4.1 RUU shows. Tech site Geeksaber
has gone hands on with this new version and lists the following promising observations:

Live wallpaper lag has been fixed

There’s a dedicated button in the Camera app to switch between Front/Backward facing cameras. (earlier you’d have to go into the menu for that.)A dedicated button to switch tabs in the browser. (You’d have to go into the menu for that, too)Complete removal of all 3D-Effects in the launcher leading to a completely lag-free experience.Probably the most important- Rebased on Android 4.0.4Added ability to remap the recent apps button/ Long-press recent apps/ Long-press Home as Menu. (yes, it removes the Virtual menu bar) under Settings->Display, Gestures and ButtonsNew, blazing fast kernel. We mean it. It scored a pretty impressive 59oo+ in Quadrant benchmark (compared to 5100+ on Sense 4)Wifi-dropping/ Icon showing weak signal Fixes.Better Battery life- 5 Hour+ Screen-on time as compared to a measly 3 Hour+ on Sense 4.
Not sure whether this is the same version currently being pushed to the AT&T One X, but it seems likely.

XDA developer football
already has a ROM based on this version of Sense called HTC One maXimus V2.2, which is available for the international Tegra 3-powered HTC One X. Hopefully, this new Sense will make it to all One series phones soon, including my Evo 4G LTE.
View the original article here

Read More

HTC ‘Proto’ Launching This Fall With Specs Slightly Better than the One V

Word is trickling in about a new HTC model that is expected to debut later this year: codenamed ‘Proto.’ The device appears to be a refreshed One V, but we’re not sure how HTC will position it. It very well could be a new device in the One series. The Proto is only 9.62mm thick and has a 4-inch WVGA SLCD display. Compared to the HTC One V, this is a slight bump in specs but nothing to impressive. The One V has a 3.7-inch display, a 5MP camera, 4GB of storage, 512MB of RAM, and 7.2Mbps HSPA. In terms of processor speed, the HTC One V has only a single-core processor, and the Proto will have a dual-core Qualcomm MSM8225 (lower-end Snapdragon S4) rated for 1Ghz, a welcomed upgrade for you One V users out there. The Proto is supposed to have Beats Audio in tow, but we’re unsure if the recent realignment between Beats and HTC, will have an adverse affect.

So tell me, are you excited for the HTC ‘Proto’? Sounds like a great mid ranged device to me!

View the original article here

Read More

RENOVATE Gaming Boost app improves gaming performance on HTC One X

Owners of the HTC One X, one of the top smartphones on the market, have discovered that game apps may not perform up to their expectations. The hackers at XDA pinpointed several issues that affect the performance and figured out how to get around the problems. However, doing so involved several manual steps to several different settings. To change that, some XDA members combined forces to put together the RENOVATE Gaming Boost app.
The RENOVATE Gaming Boost app automates several steps needed to tweak the HTC One X for maximum gaming performance. Using the app, “sets all the cores to ondemand, tweaks the sampling rate, up threshold and sampling down factor, enables gpu frequency scaling, switches to the deadline scheduler and tweaks the mnfrees” according to wilkyyyy
, XDA Senior Member, who ported code originally written by XDA Senior Member henk2484 to the HTC One X. Another XDA member, Recognized Contributor hamdir,  had written a tutorial describing many of the methods that were ultimately included in the app and has since updated his own work to reflect usage of this app.
If you are an HTC One X owner and you are interested in trying the app out, just hit the source link for the needed files and instructions. Other users are reporting great success with the app. Just keep in mind several of the tweaks embodied in the app will cause high battery consumption, so battery life will be impacted, possibly to the point where the battery may struggle to last even an hour if the gaming action is hot and heavy.

View the original article here

Read More

Samsung won’t be able use footage from ’2001: A Space Odyssey’ as evidence in trial against Apple

I’m no lawyer, but what’s the deal with Judge Lucy Koh? First she rules that Samsung is unable to use evidence that clearly shows they were working on designs that resembled the iPhone back in 2006, and now she ruled that Samsung can’t use footage from the movie, “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

As you know “2001: A Space Odyssey” features a tablet well before the iPad was even thought of let alone designed. I assume the reason why Koh keeps refusing these exhibits is because this case isn’t about refuting Apple’s patents. It’s on whether Samsung infringed on them or not. The fact that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office should have or shouldn’t have granted these patents is not on the table.

View the original article here

Read More

Samsung unveils new TV over 4G technology

Seems as if Samsung has been testing LTE Broadcast technology for TV over 4G using a standard known as eMBMS (evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service). While mobile TV has been popular over in Japan, it hasn’t quite made the leap to any other market or country. The large amount of bandwidth that LTE offers could help persuade other carriers to consider this technology and could very well be a hit to consumers in this on-the-go society that we currently live in. While it’s certainly still unclear what Samsung’s goal ultimately is with this technology, I’m sure it has a good chance to be successful considering Samsung is one of the worlds most successful smartphone manufacturer.

You can head over to the official press release after the break.

Samsung Demonstrates Broadcast Services Over LTE Using Anritsu’s Rapid Test Designer (RTD) and MD8430A

RICHARDSON, Texas, Aug. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, has successfully demonstrated clear reception capabilities of LTE Broadcast services using evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (eMBMS) technology using Anritsu’s (www.anritsu.com) Rapid Test Designer (RTD) and MD8430A to simulate the LTE network environment.

eMBMS technology allows the LTE network infrastructure to be used for the delivery of broadcast services, such as TV. It enables carriers to adjust coverage and capacity as needed, allowing for more efficient use of network resources. Samsung Electronics and Anritsu (two long-time leaders in new mobile technologies) have collaborated to bring this new technology to market.

Anritsu’s RTD delivers a rich set of test features using its fast and flexible flowcharting user interface. The Samsung engineers were able to create the eMBMS demonstration using RTD’s graphical script design to drive the execution of the test simulation on an Anritsu MD8430A LTE signaling tester.

“Anritsu is delighted that Samsung, the world’s largest cell phone maker, has selected the technology-leading capabilities of the RTD and MD8430A to verify the implementation of eMBMS capability in its devices,” stated Kenji Tanaka, Executive Vice President at Anritsu. “Samsung’s demonstration shows how Anritsu’s RTD helps LTE device makers prove their leading-edge technology in an intensely competitive market where reducing the product launch cycle time is critical to success.”

“We have used Anritsu test equipment from the very beginning of our LTE development programs,” said Inyup Kang, Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics. “Anritsu’s RTD and MD8430A have made a significant contribution to our leading position in the LTE device market.”

View the original article here

Read More

HTC Q2 financial results reported; Q3 revenue estimates lowered

HTC announced today their third consecutive quarter of declining profits in conjunction with the release of their second quarter audited earnings report. HTC brought in approximately $3.0 billion in revenues to go with a gross margin of 27% and an operating margin of 9%. This yielded after tax net income of $247 million, down 58% compared to the first quarter of 2012.
HTC holds about 14% of US smartphone market share, which is not bad in the face of stiff competition from Apple and Samsung. The situation is not as positive elsewhere, with market share in South Korea reportedly falling below 1%, prompting HTC’s withdrawal from South Korea. That was preceded by HTC’s withdrawal from Brazil. HTC’s market share was not helped by Beats Audio, which HTC acquired and then sold back half its stake in less than a year’s time.
For the immediate future, HTC expects revenues to be in the $2.5+/- billion range for the third quarter with a 25% gross margin and 7% operating margin. For comparison, in the third quarter of 2011 HTC pulled in $4.5 billion in revenues.

View the original article here

Read More

AT&T pushing Android 4.0.4 OTA to HTC One X; rooted users accept with caution

Reports are coming in that AT&T has started pushing out an OTA update for the HTC One X today. The update, build number 2.20 that bumps Android to 4.0.4, has only gone out to a few users and it is unclear when it may roll out to the rest. Neither AT&T nor HTC have issued a change log that details what is included in the update. Users are reporting that it includes security fixes that block some root exploits, a setting to remove the menu button “bar” for some apps, and the ability to long press the multi-tasking button for a pop-up menu.
Users who have rooted their One X or who are thinking about doing so may not want to jump on this update just yet. The fixes for the root exploits have the consequence of also closing methods used to gain root access. Since AT&T and HTC do not offer bootloader unlocking on this version of the One X, the update will effectively block root access until the hackers figure out a new way to do so.
If you get the update, please post and let us know of any other changes that are included.

Source: Android Central

Read More

You can now pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S III from Ting

Ting, a MVNO (Mobile Vitural Network Operator) running on Sprint’s network, is now offering the Samsung Galaxy S III for pre-order. You will have a choice of either Marble White or Pebble Blue and as this is prepaid, (no discounted handsets) the device will cost $529 (16GB) or $579 (32GB).
One drawback: you have to wait 3-6 weeks for your shiny new phone to ship. The good news is, for those who live in a Sprint LTE market, you’ll be able to browse the web at stunning LTE speeds! We have yet to confirm the official specs; Ting says their version will have only 1GB of RAM Vs. 2GB on other variants. Either this is a method to cut costs, or there was an error–hopefully the latter.
The Samsung Galaxy S III has been available for quite some time and is selling at record numbers, leading to Samsung destroying their shipment record in quarter two of this year. Widespread ability, and specs that leave nothing to desire are likely the main cause of its popularity. I know if I wasn’t packing a Galaxy Nexus, I would definitely pick one up! Are you on the Ting network? Let us know if you plan on picking up this powerful beast! Hit the break for the full press release.

Ting Offers Samsung Galaxy SIII on Sprint’s 4G LTE Network

TORONTO, August 2, 2012 – Tucows Inc. (NYSE AMEX:TCX, TSX:TC), a global provider of domain names and other Internet services, today announced that its mobile phone service, Ting, has made the Samsung Galaxy SIII available for pre-order on its website at ting.com.
Devices will ship in three to six weeks. The 16GB Samsung Galaxy SIII is at $529, the 32GB at $579. These will be the first Ting devices to use Sprint’s 4G LTE network. Both the 16GB and 32GB are available in Pebble Blue and Marble White.
“It’s a killer device,” said Scott Allan, Director of Ting. “We have a lot of potential customers who have been waiting for this. They won’t have to wait much longer.”
To thank customers for waiting the three to six weeks, Ting will pick two of the first two hundred pre-orders and waive the cost of the device entirely.
Samsung Galaxy SIII shoppers are strongly encouraged to go to the savings calculator at ting.com/calculator to determine how quickly their monthly savings on service will cover the upfront cost of the device.
After that, pre-orders can be placed at ting.com/devices.
About Tucows
Tucows is a global Internet services company. OpenSRS (http://opensrs.com) manages over 11 million domain names and millions of email boxes through a reseller network of over 12,000 web hosts and ISPs. Hover (http://hover.com) is the easiest way for individuals and small businesses to manage their domain names and email addresses. Ting (http://ting.com) is a mobile phone service provider dedicated to bringing clarity and control to U.S. mobile phone users. YummyNames (http://yummynames.com) owns premium domain names that generate revenue through advertising or resale. More information can be found on Tucows’ corporate website (http://tucows.com).

View the original article here

Read More

Sony LT30 Mint to be named Xperia T

It is so hard for manufacturers to keep secrets these days. It’s amazing when you think about where you can dig up stuff. Take the upcoming Sony LT30 Mint. We know it won’t be called that, and it has to go through various certifications before it can be brought to market. One such certification is for the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) Organization. It so happens that the LT30 just got certified under the name, Sony Xperia T. This certainly isn’t a shocker since Sony adopted the single-letter scheme for 2012.

The Xperia T will sport a 4.6-inch 720p (1280 x 720) display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4, and a 13MP camera. We should see this bad boy later this month in Berlin so stay tuned.

View the original article here

Read More

Sprint Galaxy Nexus update removes local search function

As reported earlier today, Sprint began rolling out an update for the Galaxy Nexus phone. Likely requiring a few days to reach all devices, the update modifies the received signal strength indicator (RSSI), adds support for Sprint TV, and adjusts LTE settings to default to “on.” The update does a little more than that though – it removes local search capability.
For those jumping into the saga at this point, the local search capability refers to the ability to search contacts or files on the phone using the same search box one would use to do a search of the web. This capability has become the focus of a legal battle involving Apple, who obtained a preliminary injunction blocking sales of the Galaxy Nexus.  The solution for carriers and the manufacturer, Samsung, has been to disable local search until the litigation is resolved.
Followers of the lawsuit are probably not surprised by this move by Sprint. They may be surprised that Sprint did not disclose this part of the update.

Source: Android Central

Read More