Verizon sets release date for DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD as October 18

We heard they could be delayed, but it looks like everything is a go because Verizon just announced the DROID RAZR HD and the DROID RAZR HD MAXX will hit stores next Thursday, October 18. The DROID RAZR HD will cost $199 and the DROID RAZR HD MAXX will run you $299. The main difference between the two phones is the DROID RAZR MAXX HD sports the same 3300mAh battery that was in the DROID RAZR MAXX. It also makes it a little thicker; 9.3mm vs 8.4mm. The DROID RAZD HD is no slouch either with its 2530mAh battery so I’m thinking that at $199, it’s a really good buy. The only other difference is storage; The DROID RAZR HD has 16GB and the RAZR HD MAXX has 32GB.

The rest of the specs for both models include a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP camera, microSD for expanded storage, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and WiFi - 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4GHz/5GHz). The only real negative is Ice Cream Sandwich is onboard, but Motorola promises Jelly Bean by the end of the year. The DROID RAZR HD will be offered in black or white and the RAZR MAXX HD will be offered in black only.

Check out our hands on video from the launch event.

source: verizon

Leaked user agent profile reveals the C650X ‘Odin’ to be the next Sony Xperia flagship

The Sony Xperia T just came out, but you know Sony is already hard at work on their next flagship (and probably the one after that). A leaked user agent profile has revealed a phone codenamed Odin with a few model numbers; C6502, C6503, and C6506. That last number being the only different number could point towards regional variations. Unfortunately we don’t know too much more other than it’s running Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.

There are also two more devices that were revealed, but not as high profile. They are similar to the Xperia tipo and Xperia miro and their model numbers are C1505 and C1604/C1605. They both sport HVGA (480 x 360) displays and Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The C1604/C1605 sports a Snapdragon S4, while the CPU for the C1505 is probably the same, but it’s officially not known.

source: gsmarena

More details surface for the LG Optimus G Nexus

The other day we reported that not only will Google change the Nexus program, but that LG will definitely have a device dubbed the LG Optimus G Nexus. Then we had a hands-on report from a tipster who claims to have the device. Now MoDaCo posted some details of their own. According to them, the actual retail name hasn’t been decided yet, but it’s definitely based on the Optimus G although it won’t look the same.

It will definitely have Android 4.2, a 1280 x 768 True-HD IPS display, a quad-code Snapdragon S4 processsor, 2GB of RAM, 8MP camera, and a non-removable battery. You’re probably wondering about the storage, and apparently Google is going the Nexus 7 route and only offering 8GB and 16GB models. Just like the Galaxy Nexus and the Nexus 7, there won’t be a microSD slot. Now I know this is going to be a huge disappointment for most of you, but surveys show the average user doesn’t need more than 16GB of storage. By offering the 8GB version, it’s obvious Google is going to make that the aggressively priced version. If they come out with a $399 price tag (off contract), it will sell like hotcakes.

source: MoDaCo

 

AT&T announces the HTC One X+ and One VX as coming soon

Earlier HTC announced the One X+ as their newest flagship phone, but said that a separate announcement would take place for the U.S. Well AT&T didn’t take long to announce their intent to carry the quad-core beast as well as another phone called the One VX.

The One X+ (pictured above) will be the first quad-core phone in the U.S. with LTE capability thanks to the latest 1.7GHz Tegra 3 chipset. The rest of the specs are the same which include a 4.7-inch 720p Super LCD 2 display, 1GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, 8MP rear camera with ImageSense, 1.6MP front camera, 2100mAh battery, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and Sense 4+. They didn’t announce pricing or when it will launch, but hopefully by the end of the month.

AT&T took this opportunity to introduce another HTC phone, the more economical One VX (pictured below). This one will sport a 4.5-inch qHD (960 x 540) LCD 2 display, a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 5MP rear camera with ImageSense, VGA (640 x 480) front facing camera, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and Sense 4.0. It will be 9.19mm thick and weigh 124.7 grams.

Again, no word on pricing or availability so stay tuned.

Sony announces Xperia AX for Japan

The good news is that Sony has simplified things by using the Xperia name for all mobile devices, but the bad news is that they are also using every letter combination known to man. I dare anyone to keep track of all these devices. The latest is the Xperia AX for Japan. It’s actually a variant of the Xperia V, and it includes a 4.3-inch (1280 x 720) display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4, 1GB of RAM, a 13MP camera, LTE, and NFC. It’s water and dust resistant, which makes it the first such 4G LTE device ever from Sony. Before you ask, it’s not running Jelly Bean. You will have to deal with a little ice cold Ice Cream until an update comes along.

No word on pricing or availability, but I would presume we will see it by the end of the year.

source: sony

Samsung Galaxy S III launches on MetroPCS in October

Today MetroPCS announced that sometime in October they would be releasing the Samsung Galaxy S III to their customers. The MetroPCS version is very similar to Verizon’s version of the phone, packing a 1900MHz radio in addition to 4G LTE, 1.5GHz dual core Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, and 1.9MP front camera. For those of you who are looking for a good 4G device that doesn’t come with an expensive contract plan from Verizon or AT&T, this might be your best option.

If you’re feeling lucky, you can head on over to MetroPCS’s website to sign up to win a Galaxy S III.

Source: Unwired View  Enter contest: MetroPCS

Latest Verizon roadmap shows DROID Incredible X, Samsung Stratosphere 2, LG Revolution 2, and more

Our friends at Phone Arena received the latest Verizon roadmap and it shows some interesting stuff. Now we already know about the upcoming HTC phone sporting a 5-inch display and rocking a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, but this roadmap reveals how they will market it. It looks like it will be called the DROID Incredible X as opposed the the HTC One X 5. According to the map, it will launch in November, just about one year after the Rezound. The model number is ADR6435LVW

Next is the LG Spectrum 2. We’ve heard about a possible Spectrum 2 for a while now,  but I thought it might have been cancelled since the original Spectrum really didn’t generate much interest. It is a rebranded version of the LG Optimus II LTE and it will sport a 4.7-inch (1280 x 720) True HD IPS display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4, an 8MP rear camera, 2100mAh battery, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It should be hitting the shelves in early October.

Then there is the Samsung Stratosphere 2, which will obviously be a slide-out QWERTY phone. This will most likely be similar to the Galaxy S Relay 4G for T-Mobile, but with a larger screen. It’s rumored to have a 4.3-inch display and a 1.5GHz dual core Snapdragon S4. It could launch later this month.

If you’re wondering about the DROID RAZR MAXX HD or the DROID RAZR HD, the RAZR MAXX HD was listed as November while the RAZR HD was listed as quarter 4. November happens to be in quarter 4, and we can only assume they will launch together.

Other notables is the Pantech Perception (formerly known as the Star Q), which replaces the Pantech Breakout and a couple of ZTE tablets (7-inch and 10-inch). As for other devices, Verizon is going to launch Windows Phones from the three major players sometime in November. They will have the Samsung ATIV S, the HTC Windows Phone 8X, and the Nokia Lumia 920. Then there’s BlackBerry 10, which won’t show its face until Q1 2013.

source: phonearena

Samsung Releases The Jelly Bean Kernel Code For The International Galaxy S III LTE Smartphone

 

As we get closer to seeing the Samsung Galaxy S III LTE models loaded up with Jelly Bean, we are seeing small samples of what the excitement is all about and what it can bring. In anticipation of the new GT-i9305 variation of the smartphone, Samsung has released the Jelly Bean kernel code. In case you’ve forgotten, the GT-i9305 model is a European LTE device that features a quad-core Exynos chip with LTE on-board— which differs from the existing LTE models that have a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip inside. So now that we got that out of the way, those of you planning on owning the GT-i9305 model will now have one of the first tools necessary for building those custom JB ROMs and whatnot. Go ahead and check out the source link to grab the kernel in all its glory.

source: Samsung Open Source

Motorola DROID RAZR M review: small but large and cheap but powerful

Recently Motorola unveiled three new members of the RAZR family. The DROID RAZR HD and the DROID RAZR HD MAXX are nice editions, but it’s rare that the highlight of an event such as this would be the budget phone. The DROID RAZR M is much smaller than the original RAZR, but packs the same 4.3-inch display since it’s edge to edge. That’s not even the best part. The best part of it is that it’s priced at $99 on contract. Can the DROID RAZR M compete with the big boys? Hit the break to find out and you can also check out our initial hands on review.

Design

I always expect a nice build from Motorola, and the DROID RAZR M doesn’t disappoint. You won’t find anything cutting edge here, as it’s a simple basic design, but it’s very solid. The display is Corning Gorilla Glass and most of the back is Dupont Kevlar fiber. Just like past RAZR phones, it has a nanocoating that acts as a water-repellent. You also won’t find a lot of plastic like other phones as the frame is made of aluminum. It’s shocking at how great the build is for $99.

As I mentioned, the display is edge to edge, which means that Motorola was able to pack a 4.3-inch display into a small body. Phones continue to get bigger and bigger, but there’s still a lot of people who prefer something a little smaller. The DROID RAZR M will satisfy everyone in that category and might even convince a few fans of bigger displays to go a tad smaller.

Let’s talk size. The DROID RAZR M is 4.82-inches by 2.04-inches and 8.4mm thick. Here are the sizes of some past and current phones with either the same size or smaller display.

• DROID X – 4.3-inch display – 5.02-inches x 2.58-inches x 9.9mm
• DROID Incredible 4G LTE – 4.0-inch display – 4.82-inches x 2.04-inches x 11.7mm
• DROID RAZR – 4.3-inch display – 5.15-inches x 2.72-inches x 7.1mm
• DROID RAZR MAXX – 4.3-inch display – 5.15-inches x 2.72-inches x 8.99mm
• HTC Rezound – 4.3-inch display – 5.08-inches x 2.58-inches x 13.7mm
• HTC Rhyme – 3.7-inch display – 4.69-inches x 2.39-inches x 11mm
• HTC One S – 4.3-inch display – 5.15-inches x 2.56-inches x 7.8mm
• Samsung Galaxy S II (i9300) – 4.3-inch display – 4.93-inches x 2.60-inches x 8.5mm
• iPhone 5 – 4.0-inch display – 4.87-inches x 2.30-inches x 7.6mm
• iPhone 4S – 3.5-inch display – 4.5-inches x 2.31-inches x 9.3mm

As you can see, Motorola is on the cutting edge (no pun intended) with the DROID RAZR M and it’s edge to edge display. Even the HTC Rhyme and the iPhone 4s, which sport half-inch smaller displays can’t compete. The iPhone 5, which has a 4-inch display, is also bigger. Although it’s thinner, I would rather have the larger screen with a little extra thickness.

As far as ports and buttons go, the right side top has the power button followed by the volume rocker just below that. The left side sports the LTE SIM slot and the microSD slot (both below a pop out cover) as well as the microUSB port towards the bottom. The top has the microphone jack.

As far as colors, it’s available in both black and white.

I can’t stress enough how solid of a phone the DROID RAZR M is, especially at this price point. Motorola seems to be the king at getting a lot of stuff into a small area. Last year it was the 33oomAh battery and this year it’s the 4.3-inch display.

 

Hardware

The DROID RAZR M features a 4.3-inch qHD (960 x 540) display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, microSD for up to 32GB of additional storage, 8MP rear camera, VGA front-facing camera, NFC, WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth 4.0

Performance

The DROID RAZR M performs as well as some of the best phones thanks to the 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor. Since Motorola’s UI is closer to stock Android than any other phone other than a Nexus, it’s pretty smooth. I can’t even imagine what Jelly Bean is going to do for this phone. You guys already know that I’m not a fan of benchmarks, but I did run the obligatory AnTuTu, which came in at 6751. That’s right up there with the AT&T HTC One X, which scored 6772 and the T-Mobile HTC One S, which scored 6993. It blew away the DROID Incredible 4G LTE and the DROID RAZR MAXX, which came in at 5996 and 6006 respectively.

You will find complaints about the display on most of the other tech blogs. It’s a qHD (960 x 540), but it’s PenTile. I know as soon as readers see PenTile they go screaming, but seriously folks, this is not the DROID Bionic. The display is very nice and I personally think the color is better than my everyday Galaxy Nexus. I know a lot reviewers claim to see all kinds of pixelations, and I don’t say they”re wrong, but I just don’t have the eyes for that. Unless you are an abolute connoisseur of displays, you won’t have any complaints.

Battery

Although the DROID RAZR M is small, it packs a 2000mAh battery. That’s right up there with all the high end phones currently available, other than the DROID RAZR MAXX. I ran my usual video rundown test in which I turn up the display to 2/3′s, and I was able to get 8 hours and 50 minutes. That’s while connected to 4G LTE the entire time with GPS enabled. In comparing it to other phones, the AT&T HTC One X was only able to get 7 hours, and it wasn’t even connected to 4G LTE. The DROID Incredible 4G LTE was closer as it turned off at 7 hours and 45 minutes while connected to LTE. Last but not least it destroyed the Atrix HD, which only came in at 4 hours and 45 minutes. I was pleasantly surprised and happy with this performance.

Software

So far I really haven’t give you any negatives, but here’s one to get things started – Ice Cream Sandwich is onboard. I know that’s not a disaster, but it’s a little disappointing based on Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside’s comments at the event saying that updates are important. I thought they were going to make a splash and tell us Jelly Bean was onboard, but they only promised that the update would happen by year’s end. All in all, Motorola’s version of Ice Cream Sandwich is by far the best as compared to other manufacturers. It’s the closest thing to stock. The only change I see is the elimination of the live icons we saw in the Atrix HD. I’m not sure why they were so short-lived, but I can’t say that I’m missing them.

You still get the gorgeous ring widget that gives you the time, weather, battery, and data usage at a quick glance. Just like past Motorola phones, Smart Actions is included, which lets you customize all your settings depending on your needs. If there is one disappointment, it’s the fact that for whatever reason, they didn’t incorporate NFC tags into it. I suspect we might get that feature in the Jelly Bean update.

As far as home screens go, you will only start with one out of the box, and you can manually add to that one at time up to seven. Motorola makes it easy for novice users, by giving the ability to add predefined template themes such as Amazon, Media, and Mobile Office. If you’re already familiar and comfortable with Android, you can simply add blank pages and fill them up with whatever your heart desires.

As far as bloatware, Verizon just inked a deal with Amazon so you will see a healthy dose of Amazon apps which include Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Amazon MP3, and the Appstore. Unfortunately you can’t hide or uninstall any of them. Other bloatware include Audible, Color, Emergency Alerts, Facebook, IMDB, My Verizon Mobile, NFL Mobile, Quickoffice, Slacker Radio, Viewdini, VZ Navigator, and Zappos. Again, you can’t hide or uninstall these apps, which is something new for Motorola as in the past, they allowed you to either hide or uninstall most of the bloatware.

Camera

If there is one complaint I’ve had with Motorola phones, it’s the camera. For whatever reason, Motorola has always lacked in this area. Samsung and HTC continue to lead in this department, and unfortunately the DROID RAZR M doesn’t change anything. If you’re taking still images outdoors, things will be okay with the 8MP lens, but when you get into lower light situations as well as anything that involves movement, things go down hill. Movement is especially a concern because of the slower shutter speed. In my example photos below, the last one depicts my son kissing my wife. I got lucky on the timing. He was actually supposed to be looking at me, but he turned his head and the shutter was so slow it took the picture right when he was kissing her. Unfortunately the result wasn’t so good.

The front-facing camera is a little disappointing based on the fact that it’s VGA, but I would never stay away from this phone based on that. This is a $99 phone and every spec can’t be high end. If there is one area that is acceptable to cut back on, it’s the front-facing camera. It’s rarely used and if you do use it, it will get the job done.

Closing

I think Motorola and Verizon Wireless might have a hit on their hands. Generally when you walk into a Verizon store and you see a smartphone for $99, it’s at least 9 months old. That’s not the case with the DROID RAZR M, and it features specs that are comparable with the big boys. The only real negative on the specs is the rear camera and the front-facing camera. The front-facing camera is a non issue to me since it’s rarely used, but if you rate the quality of the main camera as high on your list, you might have to consider something else like the DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE. Still, if you consider the battery life, the processor, and the build quality, you won’t find a better deal.

Earlier in the year, Motorola gave us a phone with a battery that was light years ahead of anything else and this year they did the same with the edge to edge display. I’ve spoken to many people who don’t like the bigger phones that are available nowadays, and Motorola answered with something truly innovative. Up to this point nobody else has. If you’re a Verizon customer and you want something compact, but substantial, than the DROID RAZR M is for you. It will be the best $99 you ever spent.

 

 

Samsung Announces The Galaxy S III Smartphone To Launch With Wait For It… Android 4.1 Loaded Out Of The Box

 

The citizens of Singapore will now be able to have a device the rest of the world doesn’t for now– a Jelly Bean-powered Samsung Galaxy S III LTE smartphone. That’s right friends, Samsung is currently getting ready for the launch of the device by the end of September. Even more exciting is the fact this version of the smartphone will feature a quad-core Exynos processor instead of the dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip, while also featuring a whopping 2GB of RAM. Customers in Singapore can expect to pay around S$998 (US $801.86) for the newly launched device.

Oh and Samsung Singapore also took some time to make owners of the existing Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone happy too as it confirmed the existing smartphone will get the Jelly Bean update sometime in the near-future. Considering there are multiple leaks of the Jelly Bean build out there at this time, we suspect the update is due out for arrival soon— very soon.

source: CNet Asia
via: Android Central