Portable Electronics Ltd // Technology you can carry.

The LG Spectrum is Verizon’s version of the LG Optimus LTE, LG’s latest high-end smartphone that’s done particularly well in other parts of the world. Verizon is the second US carrier to feature the Optimus LTE; AT&T began offering the Nitro HD in December.

Verizon has released a barrage of high-end smartphones over the past few months, and the LG Spectrum will be placed alongside a slew of other Android devices on Big Red’s network with the lofty goal of wooing customers away from the likes of the Droid RAZR, HTC Rezound and Galaxy Nexus superphones. But does the LG Spectrum differentiate itself enough to make it a must-have smartphone for Big Red?

1. Hardware and Performance

The innards of the device are where the Spectrum truly shines. The Spectrum features a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor with the now-standard 1GB of RAM. This combination makes the device truly fly. Even when running multiple programs in the background, the Spectrum performed exceptionally well with nary a hiccup in performance. If you want a phone that’s blazing fast, the LG Spectrum holds its own with even the top-of-the-line devices out there.

Sadly, it does not have an NFC chip inside, which is frankly a baffling move for a device that will feature Android 4.0 (more on that later).

2. Build Quality and Aesthetics

I really wanted to like the build quality in the Spectrum. Though LG had some problems with software (and, perhaps, hardware) on the T-Mobile G2x, the device remains one of the best feeling Android devices out there. Though I haven’t personally had time with the AT&T variant of the Optimus LTE, several reviewers stated the device felt nice in the hand, thanks in large part to the textured backing on the Nitro HD.

When it comes to the LG Spectrum, the textured backing has been swapped out for a glossy checkerboard-patterned cover that, though it certainly looks good, makes the device feel cheap and plasticky. Further, the glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet, and it only feels clean after a fresh wipedown of the device. The Spectrum certainly doesn’t win in the build quality department, either, especially when it’ll be sitting next to the Galaxy Nexus and Droid RAZR line of smartphones.

3. Display

720p displays are certainly becoming a norm in higher end devices, and nowhere is this more true than on Verizon’s network. Though practically all devices Big Red releases feature a 720p display, the Spectrum’s 4.5-inch True HD IPS display stands out as one of the more gorgeous displays we’ve seen in a smartphone. Colors really shine on the Spectrum, especially when you crank the brightness up to the highest setting.

4. LTE

Though we’re almost sick of continually repeating this section at this point, Verizon’s LTE network covers the most people of any true 4G network in the country, and the speeds provided by Verizon LTE are ridiculously fast by any standards. With LTE capability, the Spectrum can easily churn through high definition video streaming and upload photos and video with ease.

5. Android 2.3 with LG's UI Overlay

By now, you’re probably painfully aware of my distaste for the custom UI skins carriers/manufacturers are keen to put on devices. Though there are certainly some good ones out there (I’m quite enjoying Touchwiz on the Epic Touch 4G, for example), they generally detract from the user experience Google has mastered in Android 4.0, and I believe the time is nigh to do away with them.

Unfortunately, these skins seem to be here to stay. LG has some serious work to do if it’s going to attract people to its UI. The categorized app drawer is hideous, and the launcher looks like a boxier version of Touchwiz. Fortunately, this problem is quickly remedied by installing a launcher replacement from the Android market.

Still, if you’re going to put money into the development of a UI overlay, be sure to make it differentiate itself in some way. Or, at least make it look pretty. In my opinion, LG’s does neither.

LG has promised to deliver Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich shortly, and we’ll update this review once the update hits our device. Hopefully LG releases a skinned-down version of Google’s latest OS, if not pure Android 4.0 altogether. Though without an NFC chip, we won’t be seeing Android Beam or Google Wallet hitting this device.

6. Camera Quality

I was actually pleasantly surprised with the LG Spectrum’s 8 megapixel 1080p capable camera. Though performance in low lighting for any smartphone camera is average at best, the Spectrum performed beautifully in medium to well lit situations. Pictures came out crisp and captured detail remarkably well. Videos came out good as well, though the auto-focus struggled a bit while taking video samples.

All in all, the camera on the Spectrum is one of the better cameras we’ve seen in an Android phone, and I’d argue you’ll be totally fine leaving the point and shoot at home if you’re going to be snapping a few photos in a reasonably well lit environment. Photo and video samples from the Spectrum can be found below.

7. Battery Life

The LG Spectrum is not the Droid RAZR Maxx; you won’t be able to get 24 or even 10 hours out of the device with moderate use. As with almost all LTE devices currently available, you’ll only be able to get through the standard 8.5-9 hour workday if you barely touch your device. The Spectrum fares about as well as the rest of the LTE devices, and I found it generally lasted about 7 hours before I was scrambling to find a charger.

As with most LTE devices, you’ll probably want to drop some money on an extended battery if you’re going to pick up the Spectrum. Fortunately, since the Spectrum runs a full $100 less on-contract than the top of the line devices, you’ll have some extra cash in your pocket to drop on an extended battery.

8. Call and Sound Quality

When placing phone calls, folks on the other end of the line were able to hear me perfectly well, and the sound on my end was pretty good, too. Speakerphone quality was also surprisingly good on the Spectrum. As for the speakers in general, the Spectrum provides pretty good sound output; movies and music played loud enough to hear them without having to stand or sit too close to the device.

9. Included Applications

Carriers are keen on loading extra applications on their devices, and Verizon is certainly as guilty as the rest. The Spectrum comes preloaded with several Verizon-branded applications, only a few of which proved useful. Of note, Verizon Video gives users access to a ton of video content, including live sporting events. I watched a bit of the Marquette at Notre Dame basketball game in HD quality — pretty handy for when you’re away from your TV or computer. You’ll also find access to several TV shows and other content.

Netflix HD and ESPN ScoreCenter HD come preloaded on the device to show off the HD capabilities of the IPS 720p display. I only tested out Netflix, but was really impressed with the video quality on the Spectrum’s screen. Consumers of video may want to take a hard and fast look at the Spectrum as a media consumption device.

As you’d expect, there are several other applications out there, some of which are arguably little more than free space takers on your device. If you were hoping you’d be able to uninstall these applications, you’re out of luck. They appear to be locked down by Big Red. The lack of ability to uninstall useless applications gives the Spectrum a half-point ding in this category.

10. Differentiating Factor

Customers who walk into Verizon’s store will be pitting the LG Spectrum against dozens of other Android devices out there. Even with the $199 price point, the Spectrum’s immediate competition will be the recently discounted Droid RAZR and HTC Rezound smartphones. Customers willing to spend a bit more will even consider the Galaxy Nexus and Droid RAZR Maxx devices against the Spectrum.

For the Spectrum to succeed, it will need to immediately catch the eye of the customer. Frankly, it is our opinion that the LG Spectrum does not do enough to differentiate itself from the competition in a good way. Several other devices have a 720p screen, feel better in the hands, or have an arguably better user interface than the Spectrum.

Final Thoughts LG Spectrum6 / 10

Verizon customers have a nearly infinite level of choice when it comes to which device is going to find its way into their pockets. Going up against the similarly priced Droid RAZR and HTC Rezound, the Spectrum fails to differentiate itself as the better choice, even more so when you consider the RAZR Maxx and Galaxy Nexus devices.

As always, the choice of which smartphone will be your next device is yours and yours alone, and we encourage you to spend some hands-on time with the device for yourself before making that decision; the Spectrum may very well be your preferred device in Verizon’s lineup, you just won’t likely find it in any of our hands.

Sorry about the fingerprints in the gallery below. I wiped the phone multiple times during the photo shoot, but this thing shows prints like no tomorrow, front and back!

Are you a lover of QWERTY keyboards? Verizon’s Motorola Droid 4 is scheduled to launch this week and the guys from Wirefly spent some hands-on time with the device this weekend. Highlights of the Droid 4 include an edge-lit, 5-row keyboard, dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, 4-inch qHD display, 1 GB RAM, dual cameras, and support for Verizon’s blazing fast 4G LTE network. Check out the video below and let us know if you plan on picking one up.

This week in tech news, we see a number of software updates, preparations by companies for the Super Bowl, and even a few official device reviews. Monday, Motorola began to offer a bootloader-unlocked RAZR XT910 ‘Developer Edition’. It is currently available for €499 ($657), but only in Europe for the time being. ClockworkMod Touch by ‘Koush’ was released in Beta form early on this week as well. It has had steady updates throughout the week, and it’s obvious he wants to implement the new features on as many devices with a strong developmental following as possible.

The Samsung Galaxy Note will officially launch on AT&T coming February 19th, and the LTE variant is heading to Rogers sometime later this month too. Samsung is spending a great deal of cash to advertise the device during the Super Bowl, and they’ve even released a nice teaser video of it. Keep your eyes peeled during the game, you all know commercials during the big game are always the best.

Are own Michael Crider put a few devices to the test over the past week and a half, and finally has some in-depth reviews of both the LG Spectrum, and Motorola DROID RAZR Maxx. Both are well worthy to purchase, and the Spectrum proved to be quite the upgrade from LG’s former device on Verizon – the Revolution. However, if it’s battery life you’re looking for – the the RAZR Maxx won’t disappoint. Battery life on it was amazing, and seemed to last forever.

Those of you interested in modding your device to make it ‘harder, better, faster, stronger’ should definitely try out Franco’s new kernel for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. It has proven great battery life and speed on more than one of our devices, so we highly recommend it. And finally, the last bit of news to rehash is Google’s removal of CDMA devices from their official support documentation in AOSP. However, those of you still interested in one can pick it up from Costco for a mere $219 – with an included extended battery too. That’s a $49.99 value, free. The offer is only available until February 7th, so you’ll have to act within that timeframe.

Time has expired in our first Android Bowl, but the game is not over. All the teams fought hard and the score is too close to call, so we are headed to overtime! The game will end soon, so join up with your favorite Android team and leave a comment below to win. If you already played in the first two halves you can still participate in overtime, but make sure to invite your friends to play so your Android team will grow larger and come out on top.

The Prizes

We’re picking a winner from a random comment from the first half, second half, and overtime who will receive an Asus Transformer Prime, with dock, direct from @NVIDIAtegra. Check back after the Super Bowl is over for the complete list of winners.

How to win

People never seem to read the content of these posts, so I’ll keep it as simple as possible.

1. Login or register
2. Pick you carrier and manufacture team on the Edit Profile page
3. Leave a comment on this post

It’s not too late to snag a Verizon Galaxy Nexus for a great price! Sure its been out for a while, but it’s still one of the best phones available. Costco is offering it for $219.99 with a new 2-year contract, but also throwing in a free 2100mAh extended battery. Seeing as the battery would normally cost $49.99 from Verizon, this is a great deal!

After using my own Galaxy Nexus, the extended battery is almost an essential upgrade. If you squint at this snapshot of their in-store advertisement, you’ll see this deal is only available until February 7th (Tuesday). If you can’t make it to the store but still want to take advantage of this promotional pricing, it’s also available for order from Costco’s website.

Sure, Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus isn’t being supported by Google as an official developer device anymore, but it will still receive updates. The GSM variant will nab them quicker, but having 4G LTE embedded within could definitely be worth the tradeoff. They are limiting 5 orders per member, so don’t try over ordering – as it could result in a cancellation.

Story Timeline

• Verizon Galaxy Nexus LTE Hands-on and Unboxing on Dec 15th 2011
• Verizon Galaxy Nexus accessories: extended battery and charger hands-on on Dec 16th 2011
• Here's what the Verizon Galaxy Nexus looks like on the inside on Dec 16th 2011
• Verizon Galaxy Nexus is only $229 from Wirefly on Dec 28th 2011

[via Talk Android]

We’ve recently heard from a source who is in-the-know for Telstra news that Australia’s biggest carrier is planning to launch the Galaxy S II 4G and Galaxy Note — both from Samsung, of course — in the near future as both are appearing in Telstra’s internal systems. Take it with a grain of salt, but [...]

Buzz Moody

What sounds better than Angry Birds launching through the air to blow up evil green pigs? Launching Angry Birds with painted KISS faces! Alright, it’s not for sure so don’t get too excited – but Gene Simmons, the frontman for KISS, has supposedly spilled the beans about a KISS-Angry Birds partnership.

What could this look like? I mocked up a photo for kicks, but the idea of a KISS themed Angry Birds could very well be possible. Rovio has added countless themes to their popular game, and seems to have no plans in slowing down. Thus in time, there could be a preferred version for us all.

I know plenty of KISS fans that would go crazy over the application, but is it worth noting that the group – though iconic – isn’t the most popular band anymore. Then again, Angry Birds always tends to sell out regardless of what theme it’s centered around. We’ll have to wait and see, but I can’t lie – I’d love to see what a Gene Simmon’s angry bird would look like.

[via SlashGear]

After pulling together today’s top stories, you may have missed a terrible incident where refurbished XOOM units from Woot contained previous user data! Apparently, between March to October of 2011, refurbishing companies were apparently wiping the devices improperly. If you have fallen victim to this, Motorola will help pay for a 2 year subscription to Experian to make sure your credit hadn’t been adversely affected.

It pain’s me to bring this up again, but today Google ended full support for CDMA devices. Yes, this even includes ‘Nexus’ branded devices like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S 4G. The reason many even purchase devices on the Nexus line, is because they assume they’ll receive updates straight from Google – and in a timely manner. Hopefully, this is some sort of error – but not likely. Fortunately, Google will still support CDMA devices – but just not as quickly as their GSM counterparts.

We had suggested the Samsung Galaxy S III could be waterproof soon after seeing the technology demonstrated at CES, but it was pure speculation. That rumor has developed among the community, and hopefully finds its way onto the actual device. Liquipel currently charges between $60-80 for a waterproof treatment, so if Samsung were to treat the GSIII – I couldn’t imagine it costing too much.

Lastly, DropBox opened up an Android Beta program today. This offers up to 5GB of extra storage on their cloud, and adds even more features to help managing your files. 5GB is great – they’re going to have to do a bit better if they want to compete with Box.net who offers 50GB of storage for Sony or LG devices.

There’s a lot of options out there when it comes to third-party Android launchers, AKA homescreens. But when making the jump to Ice Cream Sandwich (whether through a new device or an updated ROM) all of them seem to leave something to be desired. I’ve tried out all my favorites on my Galaxy Nexus over the last two months, and the one I keep coming back to is Nova Launcher. It’s not that other launcher’s don’t work – it’s that Nova Launcher works better. This modified version of the open-source stock launcher comes from a familiar face: TeslaCoil Software, maker of the popular lock screen replacement Widget Locker.

Nova Launcher isn’t a fancy, flash home screen replacement, it simply adds in all the features that you wish the stock launcher already had. The most obvious of these include a landscape mode option and the ability to manually remove that annoying and persistent search bar at the top of the screen. Other small but extremely welcome adjustments include a scrolling dock bar, allowing up to three “pages” of up to 7 pinned apps or folder each. That’s a great way to keep your homescreens uncluttered.

Old custom launcher standbys include defining the number of active screens (between one and seven), setting all widgets to definable widths and heights, changing the number of rows and columns and (a personal favorite) enabling or disabling the text labels beneath shortcuts. Little touche abound, like dragging shortcuts to the top of the screen to uninstall their apps and a backup/restore function. Nova Launcher is designed for smartphones running Ice Cream Sandwich and won’t work on earlier versions of Android. It will work on ICS tablets, but not all that well.

Nova Launcher is still in free beta, and isn’t yet available on the Android Market. There are two ways to install it: the basic non-Market method, and the rooted method. To get the full functionality you need to move the APK file to your system/app folder with ADB or a file manager. Don’t sweat it if you aren’t rooted, though: the only real difference is that you have to tap “widgets” in the app drawer instead of swiping. Check out the app’s current home, this XDA thread, to download the latest version. By the way, if there’s a feature you want to see, submit or vote for it on the User Voice page.

Plenty of Americans have been patiently waiting for the Samsung Galaxy Note, and assuming they’re OK with AT&T service, they won’t have to wait much longer. The carrier has set February 19th as zero day for the oversized smartphone – but don’t start camping out at your nearest AT&T store just yet. Pre-order the phone through Best Buy, and they’ll give you a free flip cover for your trouble. Considering how large the phone is anyway, you could consider that a blessing or a curse, but if you want to get into the old-school PDA spirit, you’ve got to have  a faux leather book-style cover.

Best Buy didn’t elaborate on exactly what brand would be offering the cover, or even publish a photo with their press release. They might not have even ordered the accessory yet. Even so, they’re claiming it as a $29.99 value, and  new Note owners get it free when activating the phone while supplies last. You can begin pre-ordering the Galaxy Note this Sunday, February 5th through Best Buy’s website or any retail store, and the on-contract price is the same $299.99 you’ll get directly from AT&T. If you plan on getting it off contract, you should probably look elsewhere: Best Buy has a nasty habit of raising the full retail price by a hundred dollars or more.

When it launches, the Samsung Galaxy note will be both the largest and highest-resolution smartphone in the country, and Samsung’s Super AMOLED display technology is the icing on the cake. It’ll also be the first Android smartphone sold with a stylus or “S-pen”, the better to take advantage of the Wacom digitizer built into the screen. High-end specs like a 1.4Ghz processor, 16GB of storage and an 8MP camera round out the package. Author’s note: the above image may or may not look anything like the case that Best Buy is giving away – as stated above, they’ve shown no pictures and given no brand names. That’s a photo of Samsung’s official cover, courtesy of Unbox.ph.

Story Timeline

• AT&T Galaxy Note rumors point to February 18th for $299 on Jan 25th 2012
• Official: Samsung Galaxy Note launches on AT&T February 19th on Jan 30th 2012
• Samsung now offering unique personal engraving for Galaxy Note buyers on Jan 30th 2012
• Samsung spending millions on Galaxy Note Super Bowl ad on Jan 30th 2012
• AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note source code released on Feb 1st 2012
• Samsung GALAXY Note unofficial unboxing by Team Evolve on Feb 1st 2012

Device Specifications and Information Device Info

Device Name : Galaxy Note

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier :

Announced Date : September 01, 2011

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 5.30 Inch
• Resolution : 800x1280
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.78 Inch
• Width : 3.27 Inch
• Depth : 0.38 Inch
• Weight : 178 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 390 hours

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

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

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU :

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 32.768 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:
• Bluetooth 3.0

Location Features:
• Compass

FM Radio :

NFC :

Android tablets are getting better, especially if you do a little research before you buy. That said, consider this post all the research you need for Fujitsu’s new tablet bound for Japan. The Stylistic M350 is overpriced, underpowered and underdone – if it were a loaf of bread, it wouldn’t need a few extra minutes in the over ad a swift chuck into the nearest garbage can. What inspires this complete lack of confidence in the new tablet? Read on, Android enthusiasts, and cringe.

At first glance, the Stylistic M350 looks like your basic low-end Android tablet. A 7-inch screen with 1024×600 resolution is’nt anything great, but it isn’t bad either – that the default resolution for a “reader sized” 7-inch tablet. 1GB of RAM is more than you’ll see on similar devices, but a 1Ghz processor is significantly less. Gingerbread runs on board, which is disappointing, but nothing new. It looks like Fujitsu added almost nothing on top of some basic handwriting recognition – even the default Gingerbread background (which isn’t sized right for the screen) is shown off. Fujitsu didn’t even charge up the device fully or remove Android’s telephony apps: you can see an empty cellular signal icon, even though the tablet is limited to WiFi and Bluetooth connections. Forget about Google apps or the Android Market.

But the really laughable thing about the “Stylistic M350 Professional Android tablet” is the price: 38,400 yen. If you haven’t been keeping up on your Japanese-American exchange rate, that’s roughly $455. Yup – $455 for a tablet that’s barely better than a no-name model you might find on a Wallgreens shelf in shrink-wrap packaging. If you’re still interested (hint: you shouldn’t be) you can revel in the exciting six hour battery life, 8GB data capacity and MicroSD card slot.

[via Notebook Italia]

Recently, Samsung made it clear that there will be no sign of Galaxy S III at the Mobile World Congress later this month, but that doesn't mean it's not coming soon. It's rumored that the manufacturer will be introducing Samsung Galaxy S II Plus, which will  feature a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor along with Android 4.0. Many people are looking forward to the Galaxy S III, which will be a TRUE successor to the current version. According to mobile analyst Eldar Murtazin, Samsung will be launching it in April. 

Well, it's still a mystery, and hopefully it will be solved sooner or later. By the way, we all just can't wait to have a look on the Galaxy S III, I hope Mr.Blurrycam is reading this. Anyway, it's rumored that SGSIII will feature Quad-core Exynos processor, a Super AMOLED Plus 720p display, 4G LTE connectivity, 2GB of RAM and Android 4.0. Now those are some mind blowing specs.

Would you like to wait for SGSIII or you are ready to get your hands on the rumored Galaxy S II Plus? Tell us about it in the comment box below.

Source: BGR

Samsung Galaxy S III Scheduled for April? originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Last month at the CES 2012, Verizon and Motorola officially announced the latest in the line of "Droid" headed to Big Red. As usual there was no information as to when we actually see it on the shelves. According to the Verizon Equipment Guide, that day will be February 10th with a rumored priced tag of $199. Last time we heard about the price of Droid 4, it was $249.99. Anyway, cheaper is always better. 

The Droid 4 will feature a  4-inch qHD display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and 4G LTE connectivity. It comes with Droid traditional five-row QWERTY keyboard, and it looks way better than the predecessor keyboard.

Hopefully, we will see the Droid 4 hitting Verizon shelves next week, anyone planning to pick it up? Tell us about it in the comment box below.

Via: BGR

Verizon Motorola Droid 4 Priced and Release date leaked originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. The number one reason you should buy a Nexus device is because your updates come directly from Google. Meaning you have first dibs and the lastest and greatest Android has to offer.

When we learned that some GSM Nexus devices were not going to be updated by Google, instead being controlled regionally by carriers and Samsung, we were a little disappointed. But at least Verizon’s CDMA/LTE Galaxy Nexus is safe. Well, it was.

There’s been no official word from Google, but the Android Developers website tells it all. The CDMA Galaxy Nexus, codename “toro,” is no longer supported on the Android Developers website. Special CDMA radio installation and download instructions have been yanked, and factory images for the CDMA Nexus are listed as “archived, for reference only.”

There’s no telling exactly what is going on, but it doesn’t look like a mistake. Perhaps Verizon wanted more control over the device? Maybe they needed to add more custom apps, or decided they wanted to exclusively handle the updating procedure? Whatever the case, this is a sad day for Verizon customers who thought they were buying a developer device. It’s not that this will really impact consumers for the most part, but enthusiasts will surely feel let down.

We’ll let you know if the situation changes.

Update:

Dan Morrill has taken to the Android Contributors Google Groups page to explain the situation.

For various technical reasons, recent CDMA Android devices implement core telephony functionality in .apk files provided in binary form by the carriers. To function correctly, these .apk files must be signed by the so-called 'platform' key. However, when an individual creates a custom build from the AOSP source code, they don't use the same signing key as these CDMA flies were signed with.

The result is that these files don't work properly, and pure AOSP builds running on these devices can't place calls, access mobile data, and so on. Because we aim to make sure that we are as clear as possible about the degree of support that devices have, we updated the docs over at source.android.com to reflect this reality.

We will still make available as many as possible of the closed-source binaries for these devices, and Nexus devices will continue to have unlockable bootloaders. And, of course, GSM/HSPA+ devices are still supported, as are any other devices we're able to support. We've simply updated the documentation to be clearer about the current extent of CDMA support.Dan MorrillGoogle

It looks like there’s nothing really going on here. Developers compiling and using pure AOSP builds are leaving CDMA phones less than functional. Your weekend has been saved.

The company behind the glass displays on many of our current smartphones and tablets, Corning, has just published another video showing us their vision of the future and the possibilities with Gorilla Glass and beyond. While almost everything from the video clip is futuristic it does give you an impressive look on the possibilities in the future with not only Corning’s glass, but devices and tablets as a whole.

For those that don’t know, Corning and their hardened glass technology is what is currently being used in most smartphones and tablets available today, especially in Android devices. Their scratch resistant, anti-glare glass gives us better and stronger displays for all of our favorite devices. I could break down the video but instead I’ll let you enjoy it for yourself.

I must admit, they did go a little overboard as not everything can be made of transparent glass — but the learning and educational possibilities alone are quite impressive. The multi-user multi-touch display we see later in the video is something already being used today, just not on that scale. At CES 2012 we saw multiple large screen platforms with Corning themselves hosting a huge 80? Gorilla Glass 2 strengthened projected display and more.

It seems that technology may be advancing a little slower than Corning would like. With handheld devices, 3D projectors, and homes being entirely reliant on glass this shows us a future we can only dream of. Or do we think we’ll have these types of technologies soon? Corning also released an unpacked version of the video with a complete breakdown of the technology and you can see that here.

Back in mid-December, some information about what Google was working on at their top secret Google X lab made its way online that left us wanting more. According to 9to5 Google, Google has been working on some Android powered smart glasses that would feature a heads up display for relaying information from the cloud. We still don’t know if this is true, or if it is, when the smart glasses would hit retail shelves, but Google has filed a request with the FCC signaling they are ready to test an “entertainment device” that will eventually be available to the masses.

In the original rumor report from 9to5 Google’s Seth Weintraub, Google’s smart glasses were detailed as looking like your average pair of eyeglasses, save for some unobtrusive buttons on the arms. The lenses would feature some sort of transparent display technology, similar to Samsung’s transparent Super AMOLED, that would show information based on several different things. If paired with an Android device, the glasses could very well let you know who is calling when your phone goes off, give a brief description of an email, or notify you of a calendar alert. But Google’s glasses might not have to be used with an Android device at all.

Rumors peg the glasses as capable of running on their own. They’d have some sort of data or WiFi and GPS access for connecting with your Google account, and bringing you location aware information. For example walking into your favorite gelato shop downtown may trigger a notification letting you know Google has a coupon available for this store. We imagine Google Maps navigation is another real possibility.

The reality of the situation here is that none of these rumored features could ever make it to consumers without some serious real world trials. Which is exactly what Google’s FCC request is all about.

Google has sent a request to the FCC to test 252 “entertainment devices” from January 17, to July 17, on home WiFi networks and through Bluetooth. At this point, we have no solid idea on what Google could possibly be testing. But we do know that the smart glasses rumor does have some weight behind it. “Prominent wearables” PhD Richard DuVaul, whose work centered around wearable heads up displays, has been employed at Google for just over six months now, or just enough time for a prototype device to hit the real world testing phases. Then again, we could be looking at something far less revolutionary like a watch.

With 252 of these new entertainment devices in the wild, someone is bound to leak something soon.

We have something special for your daily flurry of lawsuit news. We usually see Cupertino Giant messing with all the little boys in the playground. Today, Motorola has taken a big swing at Apple, winning a permanent injunction in Germany. This forced Apple to pull most of its devices from its online store (you could still find them at stores) for a while.

Devices affected included the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and all 3G-enabled iPads. These went off the German Apple Store website for a while, until the ban was lifted again. An appeal took place after Apple complained that Motorola was not being helpful with the licensing of the patents at hand. Apple made a licencing payment offer, and its products should be back in the shelves soon. [1]

Regardless, it seems like iPhone and iPad users in Germany might still be losing some iCloud functionality. Mainly, the use of push e-mail, which is a great loss, if you ask us. Being able to get your e-mail & notifications in time is crucial for many users.

It seems like Google was not so wrong making the decision to acquire Motorola, in order to defend the Android operating system and manufacturers from legal battles. Motorola is on a roll with Apple, with this being the third time they won against Cupertino Giant, in Germany.

We are also still waiting to see what happens in Florida, where Motorola sued Apple, as well. Odds are looking awfully great for Motorola. And with this happening in Apple’s home country, we can expect to see those tables not only turned, but flipped upside down.

References

1. Via BBC News ?

Woot had a Motorola XOOM sale at the tail end of 2011, and as it turns out now, there were a batch of these units that still contained their original users data upon them. For those that give up their units to the refurbishing points across the USA often do not know that they have to reset their devices before they hand them over, believe it or not. For a period between March and October of 2011, refurb groups across the USA did not check the devices correctly.

Motorola is warning users that turned in their units between those months that they should speak with Motorola if they’ve experienced any strange happenings with their personal data. Motorola is also giving a free two-year subscription to an Experian credit monitoring system if they’ve turned their devices in during that period so that they might check their credit and assure themselves that they’re not getting messed with. Stores affected include Best Buy, BJ’s Wholesale, eBay, Office Max, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, and Staples.

If you feel you’ve been affected on either side of this equation, you should contact Motorola customer support at 1-800-734-5870 or at their website for this situation over at Motorola XOOM Return. This situation is sure to stopper up some Android lovers if the XOOM was their first tablet, but only a tiny fraction of XOOM users have actually been hit thus far. Stay strong on the XOOM front, users!

[via SlashGear]

Starting Sunday, Feb 5th Best Buy will be allowing pre-orders of the latest Samsung device on AT&T. The Samsung Galaxy Note, is a 5.3" HD Super AMOLED device boasting a fast dual core processor. 

The handset will go for a retail price of $299 on a new 2 year agreement with AT&T. Included with the device is the new user input technology S Pen stylus. Other specs include an 8MP rear camera along with a 2MP front facing camera.  16GB of onboard memory is also a nice feature, and also supports an external microSD card which is not included.

So, you can pre-order on the 5th and the device will be available on Sunday February 19th. The free protective Flip Cover case is available while supplies last, with no rain checks.

Source:BBPR

Pre-Order Samsung Galaxy Note from Best Buy and Get Free Flip Cover Case originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Anybody who’s bought an expensive Android phone in the last couple of years can probably commiserate with all those waiting months and months for an official update. Many times users root and install custom ROMs not out of any particular desire to mod, but just to get the features in the current version of Android. US Government officials made a bold claim on CNN this morning, saying that they can send out major software updates to their secure Android-based phones in just two weeks, side-stepping both manufacturers and carriers to deliver updated code based on Android’s open-source releases.

The official further stated that the government’s choice of Android for secure phone operations was specifically because of the operating system’s open-source nature. Publicly-available code enables modifications like the NSA’s ultra-secure Android variant, not to mention all the changes that OEMs and carriers place on phones and tablets. But since the government’s changes are relatively small and only apply to a few thousand phones at most, it follows that they could keep a tighter lid on their changes. The official said that they had approached Apple for customized versions of the iPhone and iOS for government use, but were denied access to the software’s source code.

Of course, updates to secure government-issued hansets aren’t going to grace the headlines of gadget blogs any time soon. But given the generally deplorable state of Android updates, wherein some customers wait for six months to a year for new software (if they get it at all) would seem a might bit more pathetic if Uncle Sam could do so much better. Private sector, consider yourself bested.

[via GigaOm]