Portable Electronics Ltd // Technology you can carry.

Set aside the differences in sharing things like photos and videos. Set aside the differences in how the app store and media purchases work. Hell, you can even set aside the differences in cost, hardware design and software design in general. And you’d still be left with the biggest problem Android faces over platforms like iOS today: manufacturers are still releasing too many damn phones. It’s what affects a company’s ability to provide timely updates, what keeps accessory manufacturers from supporting more devices and what makes Android look like the the dumb-phone OS of the future.

Japan’s NTT Docomo has announced their latest lineup of devices in the “Next” and “With” series to be sold this summer; both feature a handful of Android devices. Actually, handful isn’t quite right. Maybe truck load. Or landfill. In total, NTT Docomo detailed 17 different Android devices. 16 phones and one tablet. There’s devices from Fujitsu, Panasonic, LG, Sharp, Toshiba, Sony and Samsung.

Now before I go any further, I want to make it known that I believe a certain level of choice is a good thing. But there can be too much of a good thing. Verizon has been guilty of it in the past. The biggest manufacturers in the world, like Motorola, HTC and Samsung, are all guilty of it. But what Docomo has done with their summer lineup of devices just blows my mind.

Are case makers stumbling around, trying to get several different designs made up for each of the 16 phones announced? Has Docomo sat down with all the manufacturers who are providing handsets to discuss how and when the next updates will be delivered to those handsets? Do popular Japanese app developers plan to run out and buy 16 new phones this summer to ensure app compatibility?

It seems to me that NTT Docomo is treating Android like the dumb-phone OS of the future. In the past, carriers like Docomo and Verizon here in the US would release dump loads of dumb-phones, all with the same OS, but slightly different variations. Some with bigger screens, some with physical keyboards, some with good cameras, etc. Those handsets were never updated to get rid of any bugs that made it through the pre-release process, cases were hard to come by, there was no such thing as accessories like stereo docks (even for the special music phones of the day). With the way phones were released, quality was an issue. There was never enough time spent on each device throughout the development process.

RIM was the first company to change the cycle by releasing a couple different models of BlackBerrys a year, all of them the same all around the world. Sidekick was also a part of the trend, and so was Motorola (at least for awhile) with the release of the RAZR. Apple has carried the torch and taken it even further by releasing only one device a year. Someone like Docomo is not only going against a trend that actually makes sense for consumers, they’re actually destroying progress.

Bottom line: Releasing too many phones hurts app compatibility. It hurts the update process. Handset quality suffers, and in turn, so do consumers.

Carriers and manufacturers, feel free to provide a rich portfolio of Android smartphones. Don’t feel bad trying different things. But for the love of all that is good with the little green guy, don’t do what Docomo has done. Just stop it.

Yesterday HTC told us the EVO 4G LTE launch was delayed and now Sprint is confirming the device will not be in stores on May 18th. A post on the Sprint Community Forums says that HTC is working to resolve this issue and they can’t provide specific timing for product availability at this time.

Sprint goes on to say that you can cancel your pre-order, but we wouldn’t recommend it. The EVO 4G LTE offers a nearly identical experience to the HTC One X that we loved, and it will be the best smartphone available on Sprint for the next couple of months.

Hopefully HTC can resolve the issues with US customs and get this awesome device into Sprint customers’ hands soon enough. We have a demo unit in house, so be on the lookout for our full review coming in the coming days.

If you were hoping to swing into a Sprint store early Friday morning and grab an EVO 4G LTE on your way to work then you'll not like this next bit of news.  The HTC smartphone will not make its May 18 launch date, thanks to an International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation.  A post in the carrier's forum advises that Sprint's new flagship handset should be in compliance with a recent ITC exclusion order and that it should pass through Customs in due time.

Those of you who have already pre-ordered your EVO 4G LTE have three options at this point: wait until it arrives, choose an alternate product or cancel your order.  Whereas Sprint would prefer you don't opt to cancel, they indicate that the process should be relatively painless.

• HTC EVO 4G LTE availability | The U.S. availability of the HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed.  HTC is working to resolve this issue and appreciates your patience as they work to get products into Sprint channels. We can’t provide specific timing for product availability at this time and we appreciate your patience as HTC works to get products on store shelves as soon as possible.
•  Pre-order status/availability | Delivery of products for pre-order are on hold and Sprint will provide a ship date as soon as possible. Sprint will maintain the promise for the preorder customers that they will be among the first to receive their HTC EVO 4G LTE units.

 

HTC EVO 4G LTE will miss its May 18 launch originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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The MI-One, Xiaomi’s Android smartphone powered by the community-authored MIUI ROM, has garnered quite a lot of attention as of late. The second phone in the lineup has been revealed as the MI-One Youth Edition, which is basically identical save for a slower 1.2Ghz CPU and slightly less RAM at 768MB. The phone will go for about $240 unlocked when it releases later this month, and yes, it’s still running the MIUI software.

The original MI-One is an unqualified hit in China – in fact, the company can’t keep them in stock for more than an hour. The Youth Edition will hopefully help alleviate some of the supply problems they’ve been having. The Youth Edition will come in a whopping seven different colors because… I dunno, youths like variety in customized phone hardware?

Specs aside from the processor and RAM remain the same: a 4-inch screen with a resolution of 480×854, 4GB of storage, an 8-megapixel camera and an unlocked GSM radio. The phone goes on sale on Friday in China. Unfortunately there’s still no word on the phone leaving China at this point. But custom ROM enthusiasts can always check out the MIUI ROM itself, now on its fourth release and updated to Ice Cream Sandwich.

Story Timeline

• MIUI Xiaomi MI-One Phone Now Shipping
• Xiaomi's MI-One Ice Cream Sandwich build shown on video
• Xiaomi MI-One gets an official ICS beta
• Chinese OEM Xiaomi publishes MIUI open source code
• Eden Tab packs MIUI onto a retail tablet... in Japan
• MIUI ICS ROM officially available for the Galaxy Nexus
• Xiaomi MI-One sells 150,000 units in 13 minutes
• MIUI Launcher modded for any ICS ROM

[via Engadget Chinese]

Motorola’s DROID 4 slider might be next out of the freezer for an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Many users were getting worried with the lack of update information from Verizon and Motorola but today an official build right from Motorola has leaked of Android 4.0 ICS for the DROID 4. More details below for the few interested.

What’s even better is the leak shows 4.0.4 ICS, not 4.0.3 so it’s safe to say that once updated it will be on the latest version of Android right from Google — unless 4.0.5 comes out soon of course. This is good news because Motorola didn’t mention much about Verizon phones when detailing their upgrade plans earlier this year. With both RAZR’s and now the D4 seeing ICS leaks that just leaves the lonely DROID BIONIC on the waiting list.

We don’t know much about this build other than it’s official and from Motorola. According to Droid-Life OTA rootkeeper doesn’t work but the build is at least stable. Users will want to proceed with caution because you might get stuck on this leaked build for a while. Either way this is good news that the update is on the way and could be coming soon because the leak seems to be quite stable. Hit the source link below if you’d like to give it a try on your own D4. Let us know how it goes in the comments below.

Story Timeline

• Motorola DROID 4 Review: King of the QWERTY
• Motorola DROID 4 rooted already, get it now
• Motorola details ICS updates, most devices will be waiting until Q3
• Motorola DROID 4 gets minor software update
• Motorola DROID 4, RAZR and BIONIC modded for AT&T and T-Mobile

Device Specifications and Information Device Info

Device Name : DROID 4

Manufactuer : Motorola

Carrier : Verizon

Announced Date : February 07, 2012

Release Date : February 10, 2012

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.0 Inch
• Resolution : 540x960
• Screen Type : qHD AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.0 Inch
• Width : 2.65 Inch
• Depth : .50 Inch
• Weight : 179 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1785 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 200 hours

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : OMAP4430

CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• CDMA

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 4.0

Location Features:
• Compass
• GPS
• Cellular location
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

NFC :

[via Droidforums]

If your day wasn’t crammed full of patent litigation news already (and when is it ever?) then prepare for a doozie. Apple’s patent lawsuit against HTC, supposedly over early this year, has caused the International Trade Commission to delay shipments of HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE phones in US customs. The Now Network has confirmed that the EVO 4G LTE will miss its scheduled release date of March 18th (this Friday).

Here’ the official statement:

The U.S. availability of the HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed.  HTC is working to resolve this issue and appreciates your patience as they work to get products into Sprint channels. We can’t provide specific timing for product availability at this time and we appreciate your patience as HTC works to get products on store shelves as soon as possible.

There’s no telling how long the ITC’s investigation will last, and certainly not what conclusion they’ll reach. Presumably if the phones are found not to violate Apple’s singular software patent, the devices will be released to the carriers and eventually the customers. Should the ITC rule against HTC, the company will probably send out yet another software update to re-comply with the ruling.

It’s interesting that this ITC ruling in Apple’s favor, now nearly five months old, is being enacted just as two major Android devices have hit the market. It’s also notable that other, lower-profile HTC phones like T-Mobile’s HTC One S haven’t been affected. Consider that T-Mobile is the only major US carrier to go without the iPhone. Of course that’s merely speculation. Wink wink.

Story Timeline

• ITC sides with Apple over HTC in latest patent case
• Apple shouts, ITC jumps: HTC imports banned by April 2012
• Apple blew $100 million on its HTC lawsuit, and all it got was this lousy post
• HTC One X, EVO 4G LTE delayed by US customs after Apple's ITC complaint
• HTC's US One phones already work around Apple's software patent

Device Specifications and Information Device Info

Device Name : EVO 4G LTE

Manufactuer : HTC

Carrier : Unknown

Announced Date : April 04, 2012

Release Date : May 18, 2012

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x720
• Screen Type : SLCD 2

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.31 Inch
• Width : 2.72 Inch
• Depth : .35 Inch
• Weight : 134 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2000 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : S4

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 16GB GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• CDMA

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0
• A2DP

Location Features:
• Compass
• GPS
• Cellular location
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

NFC :

[via Android Police]

Quick warning to the cross section of you that both love your Google Music and frequently flashing new ROMs onto your device(s), which I imagine might be quite a few of you.

Google has recently put a limit on the number of ‘devices’ that a user may deauthorize in a year and at just four that limit could definitely be a problem. If you weren’t already aware, the ceiling for devices that you can have authorized on a single Google Music account at any given time is ten.

I suspect if you are savvy enough to flash a new ROMs you can already see where the problem is, but for those that aren’t aware the phone is given a new ID within Google Music each time you register it after flashing a new ROM. So the same device could potentially eat up your entire quota after just a few new ROMs.

Considering the dedicated and often vocal ROM development community that Android has fostered, it’s possible that we will see some serious backlash over this which could in turn lead to a reversal or at least a softening of the policy by Google.

In the mean time if this sounds like it may be a problem for you I would recommend heading over to the XDA thread listed in the VIA link below as they are already discussing potential workarounds such as restoring accounts via Titanium Backup to avoid a new authorization.

I’m hoping this is one of those situations where the full ramifications of the policy change were not thought through properly and that we will see Google come up with a workable solution, but as the vast majority of users would never run into this problem it’s entirely possible that it will stand.

Update: It seems that Google may have fixed this problem without saying a peep about it as the deauthorization limit seems to have suddenly been lifted. I was able to deauthorize all of my current devices from my list just moments ago after having hit the limit of four this morning. There’s been no change to Google’s policy in the Play Store Support page yet so we’ll have to see if Google has replaced the restriction with something more lenient or just done away with it completely.

Update 2: Here’s the official update from Google. The upshot is that for the time being you’re free to deauthorize devices at will, but that won’t be the permanent solution.

Yesterday we made a change to our device policy for music on Google Play. Any user can associate up to 10 devices to his or her account. Once you have connected 10 devices, you may add a new device only by deauthorizing an existing one from your account, and you may do this up to four times per year.

We limit the number of times you can swap out new devices at the request of some of our music partners in an effort to limit abuse. We understand this has caused some issues for users who often deauthorize and reauthorize the same device, and we are currently re-implementing the solution in a way that works for our users and music partners.

We apologize for any inconvenience and will update this page as new changes are made.Google Play Support

 

T-Mobile today confirmed that the Ice Cream Sandwich update is now available for the HTC Sensation 4G, matching previous reports from earlier in the week.  Available as an optional download for users, Android 4.0.3 can be manually installed beginning today, May 16th.  Further, T-Mobile also tapped the Amaze 4G with its own Ice Cream Sandwich update just five days from now, May 21.  We were thinking it would be a few more weeks until we saw the latter but we're not complaining.  For details on either of these updates, please head to their respective support pages.

• HTC Sensation 4G: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-2392
• HTC Amaze 4G: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-3021

T-Mobile confirms Android 4.0 updates for Sensation 4G, Amaze 4G originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Curious to see what the Galaxy S III will look like when it hits European retailers later this month? Yeah, we aren’t either. But if you’re one of those folks who gets a kick out of watching the latest gadgets shed their cardboard and plastic coverings, you’ll want to check out this YouTube video. One lucky Italian blog got their hands on the retail packaging and dutifully proceeded to rip it open for the benefit of the Android world.

In Italy at least, you’ll get the standard USB cable, compact charger and a set of headphones - which look noticeably different than the standard black buds Samsung has been bundling for about a year. Note that the exact materials in the packaging will probably differ by region and carrier – AT&T, for example, will almost certainly stick to their rather dull orange and white boxes.

There’s also a comparison between the Galaxy S III and the other heavy hitters in the Android world: the Galaxy Note, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Nexus, HTC One X and the HTC One S. It’s a well done little video, so good on ya, HDblog. The Galaxy S III is scheduled for release in Europe on May 30th, the UK on May 29th, and the US sometime this summer.

Device Specifications and Information Device Info

Device Name : Galaxy S III

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : May 03, 2012

Release Date : May 29, 2012

Also Known As : The Next Galaxy, SGSIII

Display

• Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.37 Inch
• Width : 2.77 Inch
• Depth : 0.33 Inch
• Weight : 133 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Exynos 4 Quad

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 4

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 32 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• A2DP
• Bluetooth 4.0

Location Features:
• Compass
• GPS
• Cellular location
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

NFC :

[via SlashGear]

LG today introduced their new custom interface which will run atop Android 4.0 devices.  Called Optimus UI 3.0, it's an enhancement that makes it more convenient for consumers to do some of the more popular daily tasks.  For instance, there is an improved Quick Memo feature that provides a simple way to jot down notes no matter where they happen to be in the handset.  Once the notes or memos are created, users are but one tap away from sharing across email, text, social networks, etc.

Additional details include Voice Shutter (snap pictures with voice commands), icon customization, and a pattern lock option.  The Optimus UI 3.0 will be part of the Optimus LTE II which launches in Korea later this week and will then find itself on the Optimus 4X HD and other models.

Although Optimus UI 3.0 is not necessarily earth shattering stuff, it's a smattering of little user experience features that consumers should come to enjoy.  The point here is to give users something to look forward to in their next handset.  "Can I take notes while in a call?"  "Will this one let me capture photos using my voice?"  Further, we like that it doesn't appear to be so thick and pervasive that it detracts from the standard Android experience.

LG

 

LG debuts new custom interface, Optimus UI 3.0 originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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And now, we present our prime candidate for the most poorly-named phone since the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch (breathe): the LG Optimus Elite. This phone is now available from Virgin Mobile’s website and retails stores for $149.99, and like all Virgin Mobile (US) devices it comes sans contract. The phone is launching on Virgin three days before it was expected to hit the parent company.

So why are we down on the name? In and of itself it’s no worse than the next phone, but we feel somewhat miffed that a device that fits squarely into the low end is described as “Elite”. Not that there’s anything wrong with low-end phones – they’re a necessary part of the market, and a large part of why Android is now the dominant mobile platform on the planet. We just wish the name better reflected that.

For interested parties, the Optimus “Elite” comes with a 3.5-inch 480×320 screen, an 800mhz single-core processor with 512MB of memory and 4GB of storage space. Naturally Gingerbread is running on the software side of things, but you do get extras like Swype. Thanks to integrated NFC, Google Wallet should be available on the Elite, making it probably the cheapest non-contract way to get your contactless payment on.

A little more than 24 hours after the introduction of the HTC Desire C, another HTC phone is making its debut. It may not be an official unveiling by HTC, but a leaked document and an unnamed source claim that HTC is working on a slightly cheaper version of the HTC One S. Currently known as the HTC Ville C, this new device is said to feature nearly all of the same internal components as the HTC One S.

The only difference we have been able to identify is the Qualcomm MSM8260 S3 processor (the same chip found inside the HTC Sensation) which replaces the MSM8260A S4 chip currently used to power the HTC One S. While the leaked document shows the MSM8260 processor clocked at 1.7GHz, the source claims that the HTC Ville C’s chip will be clocked at 1.2GHz.

On the software side, the HTC Ville C will be running on Android 4.0 paired with HTC Sense 4.5, giving it a leg up on HTC’s current HTC One series.

We’re not sure what to make of the HTC Ville C. The device looks to be identical to the HTC One S in nearly every aspect and we can’t really see HTC releasing this phone in Europe or the U.S. unless they manage to cut the handset’s price by at least $100. How much would you be willing to pay for an HTC One S if it was powered by last year’s Qualcomm MSM8260 S3 processor?

For months we had operated under the assumption that the Ville was HTC’s internal codename for the One S, now gracing Europe and T-Mobile with its presence. Now a new Ville has popped up in a spec sheet spotted by Brief Mobile. The list details a phone that’s nearly identical to the One S (at least internally) with one crucial difference: it’s running a Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor instead of an S4.

That would still give the phone dual-core capabilities and a 1.7Ghz clock speed, though this is mentioned as a possible typo. Other specs align perfectly with the One S, from the 4.3-inch qHD screen to the 8 megapixel camera. Android 4.0 is present, but strangely the HTC skin is listed as “Sense 4.5?. Either is phone isn’t intended to come to market for many months, or there’s another typo.

Note that an “image chip” is listed as well, so whenever and wherever the Ville C (almost certainly a codename) launches, it won’t have the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE‘s regrettable lack of the Image Sense processor. Other little touches, like a 1650mAh battery and a VGA front-facing camera, put this one on the high side of the mid range. No carrier, pricing or date information is available at present.

Story Timeline

• Trade in your iPhone and get the HTC One S free from T-Mobile
• T-Mobile HTC One S available now
• HTC One S ROM ported to the EVO 3D
• T-Mobile HTC One S suffers battery drain for WiFi calls - fix incoming
• Reminder: Unlock HTC One S and X bootloaders at HTCDev
• Bell Canada gets HTC One V now, HTC One S later
• HTC One S kickstand case coming soon
• OtterBox DROID Incredible 4G LTE and HTC One series cases hands-on
• Android Open Kang Project ported to HTC One S

[via SlashGear]

By now, you probably know that I’m not exactly the biggest fan of custom UI overlays. Sure, I totally understand why they exist, and how various features from these skins pave the way for new and great things to come from Google. But that doesn’t change the fact that three different people walking down the street can have three completely different Android experiences, which ultimately makes a large headache for developers trying to create an application that reaches all of them.

LG has sent us a press release this morning about their new LG Optimus 3 overlay. I’ve tried nearly every single UI overlay out on the market today, and have continually placed LG near the bottom on my preferred list. Google’s stock Android is always first, followed very distantly by HTC’s Sense and Samsung’s Touchwiz, then distantly again by LG’s UI and MotoBLUR (or, whatever the heck they’re calling it now).

With the Optimus 3 overlay, LG promises a skin that is unobtrusive and simple to use. Sure, judging from the few pictures they’ve sent along, it does look like a toned-down version of LG’s Optimus UI, but it still has enough changes to the stock Android experience to leave a sour taste in my mouth. Granted, my annoyances with Optimus UI’s app launcher can easily be fixed with a launcher replacement (which, I’d recommend you do immediately after powering on your LG device), changes to the notification bar and some of the included widgets are much more difficult, if not impossible, to change.

I’ll hold off full judgement on LG’s Optimus UI until I have a chance to get my hands on the Optimus 4X HD to test for myself. One thing I can say for sure, however, I definitely long for the day when there are multiple Nexus devices to choose from on multiple carriers.

Gallery

Show Press Release

LG’S NEW OPTIMUS UI 3.0 ADDS NEW FEATURES
AND FUNCTIONS WHILE BEING UNOBTRUSIVE AND SIMPLE
New User Interface Makes the LG Smartphone Experience
Faster, Simpler, More Convenient

SEOUL, May 16, 2012 – LG Electronics (LG) is introducing a new User Interface (UI) for its newest Android Ice Cream Sandwich devices, aptly named Optimus UI 3.0. Optimus UI 3.0 brings with it an array of enhanced key features, including Quick Memo™ and unique unlock functions, among other new features and functions aimed at improving LG smartphone experience.

“With smartphone hardware becoming more and more similar, it’s important for manufacturers to differentiate their products from the competition through the user interface,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Both carriers and customers tell us that they want LG phones to look and feel unique and the UI plays a big part in that. LG is really going to push the boundaries of what is possible in user interfaces starting with Optimus UI 3.0.”

Optimus UI 3.0 is designed with convenience and speed in mind. A powerful memo function called Quick Memo™ enables users to jot notes on the screen using a finger. Quick Memo™ in Optimus UI 3.0 allows users to share their thoughts through social networks, text messages and e-mails more conveniently than ever before.

Other new features include:

– the ability to unlock the phone by dragging anywhere on the screen;
– a new Pattern Lock that allows users to preset the most frequently used function, such as the camera, which automatically opens once the phone is unlocked;
– a simpler version of Optimus UI 3.0 for new smartphone users which organizes the main applications so that they are the easiest to access;
– a new Voice Shutter that allows users to capture photos using only voice commands;
– a special camera feature that enables users to pick up the best shot among multiple images including the moment just before the shutter button is depressed;
– an Icon Customizer that provides an additional level of personalization by allowing users to set their own photos as icons and shortcut images;
– the addition of a Download category to the menu for easier organization.

Optimus UI 3.0 will debut on the LG Optimus LTE II launching this week in Korea, followed by LG Optimus 4X HD in June.

With the European launch right around the corner, it was only a matter of time until the first Samsung Galaxy S III unboxing videos started to creep up on YouTube. Today’s video comes courtesy of Nicollo Rolli, editor in chief of the Italy-based HD Network. The video shows an unboxing of the retail version of the Galaxy S III, and compares the S III to the Galaxy Note, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Nexus, HTC One S, and the HTC One X.

Check out the full unboxing video below, then let us know if the Galaxy S III will be your next Android smartphone in the comments.

If you’re a user of Google Play Music that has multiple devices, you’re likely familiar with the fact that you may have to deauthorized devices on your account when it starts to get full to be able to add more. If you’re the sort who tends to flash your Android device with lots of different ROMs, you may run afoul of a Google Play Music limitation some are unaware of. The service is actually limiting the number of deauthorizations on each account.

This has been a change rolled out of the last 60 days apparently and users who hit that limit get a message that they have deauthorized too many devices. The limit is 10 deautorizations on the account. According to XDA-Developers, some users have had success e-mailing Google support and having them deauthorize older devices. However, the e-mail deauthorization scheme is unconfirmed.

The only surefire way around this is to create a new account and re-upload music if you’re near the limit. You could also restore your device from a backup of a ROM that worked previously using available backup software for Android. This doesn’t seem like a good plan on Google’s part and will certainly anger users who enjoy trying different ROMs on their devices.

[via XDA-Developers]

Story Timeline

• Google Play Music needs to increase streaming and device limits
• Google Play Music to get Labs features soon
• Google is re-working the Google Play authorization system

The Desire C has barely revealed itself as HTC's latest pocket-friendly Android phone, but another device following the same naming convention might also be on the cards. According to BriefMobile, a lower-priced One S variant, currently under the Ville C moniker, will shed the dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 and use a (presumably cheaper) dual-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3 (MSM8260). That's the same processor found in last year's Sensation, although we're skeptical of that clock speed. Otherwise, the leaked specs match the One S on the important stuff, including a 4.3-inch AMOLED display (with the same qHD resolution), an 8-megapixel auto-focus camera alongside HTC's ImageSense chip and 16GB of storage. Yep, like the One S, there's no option to expand storage, but if the price is right (and it does exist), we might be more willing to forgive that particular shortcoming.

Is the HTC Ville C a cheaper One S? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 07:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  BriefMobile  | Email this | CommentsMat Smith

If you’re the owner of the HTC Amaze 4G smartphone on the T-Mobile network in the United States, good news. T-Mobile has tipped that the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update will land on May 21. That would be Monday of next week.

T-Mobile said in early December of 2011 that the Amaze 4G would be getting the Android 4.0 update. However, at the time the update was announced we had no firm date on when it would be available. T-Mobile didn’t indicate if the rollout of the update would be staggered or if everyone using the Amaze 4G will get the update at the same time.

On a related note, if you use the T-Mobile Sensation 4G, your ICS update is available today according to T-Mobile. You need to check for the update via the Android settings menu to initiate the download. Be sure you let us know how the update goes for you.

Story Timeline

• T-Mobile confirms ICS updates for Amaze 4G and Sensation 4G coming soon
• HTC Amaze 4G Ice Cream Sandwich update leaked
• T-Mobile schedules ICS updates for Galaxy S II, Sensation 4G and Amaze 4G
• T-Mobile: HTC Sensation 4G getting ICS update "very soon"
• Official: T-Mobile Sensation 4G ICS update coming May 16th

LG is showing off the new Optimus UI 3.0 user interface that will be introduced later this month on the Optimus LTE2 and the new quad core Optimus 4X HD smartphones. The new user interface promises to allow users to take notes quickly with a feature called Quick Memo and be easier to unlock. The user interface also brings smart camera features.

The Quick Memo feature allows the user to write messages using a finger. The photographs seem to indicate that you can write those notes on several different screens without having to open a dedicated app. The easier unlock allows the user to unlock the phone by moving in a specific direction from the unlock screen and go directly into a specific feature like the Internet or camera.

The smart camera modes include a Time Machine Camera function that helps you select the best pictures. The UI also has voice recording and gives the user the ability to customize icons. The new user interface looks interesting, what do you think?

Story Timeline

• LCD vs IPS vs AMOLED: HTC One X, S and LG Optimus 4X screens compared
• LG Optimus 4X HD headed to market in May
• LG Optimus 4X HD gets benchmarked
• White LG Optimus 4X HD spotted in the wild, compared to HTC One X
• LG Optimus 4X HD hands-on from CTIA
• Europe to get LG Optimus 4X HD in June

Vodafone has announced on their blog that the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Sensation, Sensation XE and Sensation XL is going to be rolling out to handsets from the 22nd of May which will take the handsets from Android 2.3.4 for the Sensation and Sensation XE and 2.3.5 for the Sensation XL to Android 4.0.3.

Roll-out scheduled for 12:00PM, 22nd May 2012; keep an eye on our blog for further information.

Good to see this handset finally get the update, it seems it’s pouring for updates for fairly recent handsets at the moment.…

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