Sony Xperia Ion To Launch June 24th For $99.99 From AT&T

AT&T has scored Sony’s latest Android smartphone, the Sony Xperia ion, which will hit virtual and physical store shelves on June 24th for $99.99. Sony is especially touting the phone’s 12-megapixel camera that also shoots video at 1080p resolution. What’s more, the Xperia ion will be the first Sony phone in the U.S. able to connect to AT&T’s 4G LTE network. Other spec highlights include a 4.6-inch 720p HD Reality Display screen, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 16GB of internal memory. Sadly, the device is launching with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, although it will likely get upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich in the coming months. Sony’s previous Xperia models have been fairly underwhelming but Sony has provided this phone with relatively decent specs this time around, and a 4G LTE phone with a 12-megapixel camera for less than $100.

My Xbox Live Lands On Android

Ever since Microsoft’s My Xbox Live app first arrived on iOS, I was dying to get my hands on a version of the app for Android. Today, the good folks from Redmond have made that dream come true.

The launch of the Android version of the My Xbox Live app is bittersweet. While it is nice to see the app finally hit Google Play, it’s missing some key functionality.

After signing into the My Xbox Live app, Xbox Live users can check out the latest game trailers and promotional videos Microsoft has to offer, update their profile and avatar, manage messages with friends and flick through achievements and trophies earned through various Xbox games.

My Xbox Live for Android looks amazing. It’s smooth and intuitive. It just lacks some of the most important features the app has to offer on other platforms, like the ability to tether your device to your Xbox and use it as a remote. With the update made available to the iOS My Xbox Live app, iPhone users are able to browse a list of their most recent activity from the app, and use the remote function with media apps like Netflix.

Microsoft hasn’t laid out any plans to bring remote functionality to the My Xbox Live Android app, and with Xbox SmartGlass right around the corner, it might not be any time soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft waited until SmartGlass to release any major updates for Android users.

Remote control functionality or not, at least I can finally check my Xbox Live messages on the go. To install the My Xbox Live app for Android, use the download widget below.

Google Play download link

Sony Tablet P Gets A Taste Of Android 4.0

The Sony Tablet S was one of the first Honeycomb tablets to be upgraded to the latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich. But Sony has not forgot about the clamshell-shaped sibling, the Tablet P, has received its own ICS update. In a post on its Developer World blog, Sony announced that Android 4.0.3 is now available for Tablets S and P, with the Tablet P update being limited to "selected markets" for the time being.

In addition to standard ICS features like the improved launcher and multi-tasking menu, Sony's baked in some new stuff for its tablet owners. These include direct SD card access, "small apps" that can run in a window, and a re-vamped photo viewer.

To grab the new software for either device, head to Settings > About tablet > System updates.

iOS Emulator Demoed On BlackBerry PlayBook

Similar to the PlayBook’s native Android app player, the Brine iOS emulator keeps all apps in a single panel. The iOS emulator also attempts to configure the right aspect ratio of the apps for maximum visual clarity. Check out the video below and let me know what you think!

HTC Confirms One S With 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3

The HTC's One S has arrived in Taiwan toting a higher-clocked Snapdragon processor, the company has added where this device is headed at least broadly. While the US, UK, Japan, Korean, France and Germany have been enjoying the high-performance thrills of a dual-core Snapdragon S4, according to The Verge, the S3 variant will launch across Asia-Pacific regions and some European markets. HTC will, however, be marking out which sort of processing hardware's inside the two models if it's got a dual-core 1.7GHz processor, you've got the Snapdragon S3, if it's 1.5GHz then you have the newer S4. The company is also working to claim more of Qualcomm's latest mobile processor for the One S roll-out.

Apple Brings Siri To The iPad

Apple announced that as part of iOS 6, Siri will be available on the iPad in addition to the iPhone. It's part of a larger update to Siri, allowing the voice-controlled app to now do everything from launch apps to report the batting average of your favorite baseball players. Apple's Scott Forstall mentioned that Siri was coming to "the new iPad," so it sounds like older iPad owners might need to upgrade to get all the new features.

Turn-By-Turn Navigation Added To Maps In iOS 6

Yesterday at WWDC, Apple showed off iOS 6 for the first time, and we've got everything you need to know about iOS6. You'll find a brand new Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation, shared Photo Streams, new FaceTime features, and much more. iOS 6 was available for developers as of yesterday.

Apple launched its own Maps app in conjunction with iOS 6, and one of the new highlight features is turn-by-turn navigation. In addition to the standard turn-by-turn directions, and a "Quick Route" button on search results, you'll also be able to get directions from Siri. You can tell Siri where to navigate you, or even ask "are we there yet?" and find out how long it'll be before you arrive. Everything works from the lock screen, too. There's a persistent ETA at the top of the screen, and has a look and feel much more elegant than any existing GPS software we've seen before. It's all baked into Apple's new mapping system, one of the biggest announcements from today's WWDC keynote.

Google To Discontinue Meebo Services By July 11th

Only days after Google acquired Meebo for a rumored $100 million, the social messaging and advertising company announced that the majority of its services will be discontinued as of July 11th. The services being shuttered include Meebo Messenger, sharing on Meebo, Meebo Me and all Meebo’s Mobile applications. The company did confirm, however, that the Meebo Bar will continue to be available to site publishers and will see “continued improvements and new features in the weeks and months ahead,” most likely with deeper Google integration.

Dish Network Signs LTE-Advanced Chipset Agreement With Qualcomm

Dish Network wants to make sure it’s keeping up with the competition, which is why it has already locked in a deal with Qualcomm to develop LTE-Advanced chipsets for future devices, reports FierceWireless. Dish has a 40MHz chunk of satellite spectrum on the 2GHz band that it’s itching to use for terrestrial LTE-Advanced services if the Federal Communications Commission gives it permission to do so later this year. For the uninitiated, LTE-Advanced will represent a major upgrade over current LTE technologies, as the International Telecommunications Union has said that LTE-Advanced will deliver average download speeds up to 100Mbps (which, coincidentally, was its original requirement for a service to be defined as “4G”.

Virgin Mobile To Sell iPhone Starting June 29th

Today, Virgin Mobile announced that it will start offering iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S on Friday, June 29, with its Beyond Talk no-contract unlimited data and messaging plans starting at $35 on the Sprint Nationwide Network.

Even more exciting, customers can bring their payment to as low as $30 per month by setting up automatic payments through a credit card, debit card or PayPal account.

“This month marks Virgin Mobile USA’s tenth birthday,” said Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. “And what better way to thank our fans for 10 years of loyalty than by giving them exactly what they want: the perfect plan for the perfect phone. That is the essence of ‘A Higher Calling.’”

iPhone 4 on Virgin Mobile will cost $549.99 for the 8GB model and iPhone 4S will be $649.99 for the 16GB model; each model will be available in either black or white.

On Virgin Mobile, iPhone will require no contract and no activation or roaming fees and, as of June 29, will be available to new and existing customers at www.virginmobileusa.com, at Radio Shack, Best Buy and select local retailers. Customers can also turn their Virgin Mobile iPhone into a mobile hotspot for an additional $15 per month.

Consumers can sign up now to get a special alert as soon as the iPhone becomes available for sale on Virgin Mobile June 29 at www.virginmobileusa.com/iphone. For more information on iPhone 4S, please visit: www.apple.com/iphone.

Sprint launched iPhone in October 2011 and sold 3.3 million devices through the end of the first quarter 2012.