Sprint's just given us the heads up that the LG Viper 4G LTE, with its 4-inch NOVA display, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 5MP camera and NFC radio (along with Google Wallet) will be up for pre-order starting April 12. The Viper, which we got a dark look at back at CES in January, admittedly won't set any hardware records. But the price is right -- $99 on contract, with $50 mail-in rebate. Sweetening the deal is 50GB of cloud storage from Box. Sprint says full availability dates will be announced later this month.
Can Android 4.0 replace a desktop PC? We have already examined that question, and now it appears Motorola believes the answer is yes. Their Droid RAZR is expected to see a software update to Android 4.0 as early as next week, which delivers a totally new Webtop experience.
Previously, Motorola’s Webtop software allowed a phone to plugin into a smart dock that launched a custom Linux desktop that featured Firefox for as the browser. We thought it was an innovative feature when it debuted at CES 2011, but the actual experience turned out to be pretty sluggish and frustrating.
We predicted that the Motorola Atrix 4G and Webtop software were a good indicator of where Android was headed, and now it appears that has come true.
A leaked copy of the Android 4.0 update for the Droid RAZR reveals a new “Webtop 3.0 beta” that does away with the limited Linux desktop and provides users with a full Android 4.0 tablet UI when a device is docked to a larger display.
I’m pretty excited to see that this different-UI-for-different-displays feature is finally coming to Android phones. Hopefully handset makers will enable it over HDMI, MHL, and eventually WiFi Display. Check out the YouTube video below, be sure to leave your comments.
As announced earlier today, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion is now available -- but in order to make use of it on iOS and Android you'll need on-device clients. Those clients are now showing up in their respective stores (Apple's iTunes App Store and Google's Play Store). Both of the applications are indeed available for free but you'll need to be making use of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion in order to utilize them. You can find the links to each application below.
Ok Readers, we just got our new logo today courtesy of Jessica Molina (Thanks a bundle). Don't be shy, leave your comments and let us know what you think.
Good news for AT&T customers in Indiana and Texas this morning, as the carrier has announced that it'll be bringing its 4G LTE coverage to select markets in those states on Sunday, April 8th. AT&T has revealed that customers in Bloomington and Muncie, Ind. and Bryan-College Station, Texas will be joining its LTE family this weekend.
Motorola has announced this morning that the RAZR MAXX is set to shed its “DROID” branding and its LTE chip before making its debut in “select markets” across Europe and the Middle East next month. The LTE-equipped handset has been available in the U.S. since last November, where it has been impressing users with its incredible 3,300mAh battery that offers 17.6 hours of talk time. The device also boasts a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and an “Android operating system.” Motorola hasn’t specified which version of Android the RAZR MAXX will be running when it hits Europe and the Middle East, but we’re assuming it’ll be Gingerbread, with an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade following later.
It hasn’t even been a whole 4 months since the HTC Rezound hit the streets, but in cell phone years, that’s almost a lifetime. The premium Android handset that originally retailed for $299 on-contract can be yours for just $49.99. The Rezound is notable for its 720p display, Beats Audio support and dual-core processor. As you'd expect from a leading Verizon phone, there's 4G LTE connectivity included too. Considering we got wind that the HTC Rezound will begin to receive an OTA Ice Cream Sandwich update as early as this Friday, April 6 and it comes packaged with a pair of Beats Audio headphones, $49.99 is a steal for this device. You can head on over to the Verizon Wireless website to take advantage of this offer before it ends on April 9th.
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus has a pretty capable 1850mAh battery, but when it comes to productivity and 4G LTE, one would always take a bigger battery and that’s what Samsung is offering now.To take advantage of the promotion, you'll have to purchase it through Samsung Direct, which means you'll be paying $300 for the device and agreeing to a two-year contract. As Android and Me notes, though, you'd save quite a bit of money picking up the VZW Nexus and accompanying battery pack at Amazon for a combined $134. Suffice to say, then, this isn't a stellar deal, but those of you who disagree can get one yourselves through May 10, or while supplies last.
The folks at Cunning Logic have released their latest Android application PocketESN. Cellular networks that utilize CDMA technology, such as Verizon, Sprint, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, StraightTalk, Tracfone, and Cricket, all use ESN numbers to blacklist stolen or unpaid devices. For example, if you fail to keep your Sprint contract, your device’s ESN number will automatically be blacklisted by the company. If blacklisted, a device cannot be used on the network anymore.
The Nexus brand has taken quite a bit of a hit over the recent few weeks, with Google failing to provide what we have all considered the defining feature for the handsets (quick and timely updates).
It’s disheartening to see that only a subset of the Nexus S users are on ICS, but we’ve finally got some good news, BriefMobile has managed to get their hands on all the files for an upcoming 4.0.4 OTA. Head over to their website to get all the files and instructions.
