Ice Cream Sandwich

mobile
April 18, 2012
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Huawei announces global availability of the Ascend P1 smartphone

By on April 18, 2012 at 10:45 PM.

Huawei announces global availability of the Ascend P1 smartphone

Huawei on Wednesday announced global availability of its flagship Ascend P1 smartphone. The Android 4.0-powered handset will be available in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Australia by May, in Latin America by June and in Europe for the summer, with availability in other markets to follow. “The global availability of the Ascend P1, which combines smart features and a sexy design, represents a significant milestone for Huawei Device,” said Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei. “We are sending strong signals of our intention to transform into a consumer-facing brand and extend our market leadership globally by strengthening our range of flagship products. We are also expanding our sales and distribution channels to move beyond a focus on operators.” The Ascend P1 is equipped with a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, a dual-core TI OMAP 4460 processor clocked at 1.5GHz and an 8-megapixel rear camera. Read on for Huawei’s press release. More →

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Tablets
April 18, 2012
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Samsung reportedly halts Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) production to add quad-core CPU [updated]

By on April 18, 2012 at 9:30 PM.

Samsung reportedly halts Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) production to add quad-core CPU [updated]

When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, it wasn’t the high-definition tablet we’re still waiting for the manufacturer to announce. In fact, it was nearly identical to the original Galaxy Tab 10.1, but that may change ahead of the tablet’s launch. NetBookNews on Wednesday cited a Korean Samsung insider who claims the company has halted production of the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 so that it can be upgraded with a quad-core processor. Pre-sales were originally scheduled for May 4th and the device was supposed to launch on May 13th for $399.99, but it is unclear if these dates will be pushed back. Earlier reports suggested the Galaxy Note 10.1 has also been delayed to allow Samsung to make revisions to the device.

UPDATE: Samsung has denied NetBookNews’s report, stating that the new 10-inch tablet will come to market with unchanged specs. “The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will come to market worldwide as planned with a dual-core processor,” Samsung spokesman Ethan Rasiel said to BGR in an emailed statement. ”Rumors about production delays or changes to the product are false.” More →

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mobile
April 18, 2012
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HTC One S launches on T-Mobile for $199.99 on April 25th

By on April 18, 2012 at 5:00 PM.

HTC One S launches on T-Mobile for $199.99 on April 25th

T-Mobile on Wednesday announced availability details for the HTC One S smartphone. The handset will be the carrier’s first device powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the first to run Sense 4 as well. HTC unveiled the One S a few months back at the annual Mobile World Congress trade show. The sleek device features a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 16GB of internal storage plus 25GB of free cloud-based Dropbox storage for two years, an 8-megapixel rear camera and HSPA+ 42Mbps connectivity. It’s all packed within a unibody aluminum case that measures only 7.95 millimeters thick, making it T-Mobile’s slimmest smartphone to date. The HTC One S will be available on April 25th for $199.99 with a new two-year agreement. Read on for T-Mobile’s press release, and be sure to check out our full review of T-Mobile’s HTC One S. More →

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Tablets
April 17, 2012
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$150 Ice Cream Sandwich-powered tablet takes aim at Kindle Fire

By on April 17, 2012 at 7:50 AM.

$150 Ice Cream Sandwich-powered tablet takes aim at Kindle Fire

Amazon’s affordable Kindle Fire tablet shook up the industry when it launched last year. Tablet vendors were already having serious difficulties competing against Apple’s iPad, and these companies would now have to find a way to cut costs as well. While Samsung announced last week that it will soon launch lower-priced Galaxy tablets, a new off-brand device has the potential to make waves if the firm behind it can manage to successfully fight for attention in an increasingly crowded market. Read on for more. More →

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mobile
April 17, 2012
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MEIZU announces the first Exynos-powered quad-core smartphone

By on April 17, 2012 at 1:15 AM.

MEIZU announces the first Exynos-powered quad-core smartphone

MEIZU on Monday announced its flagship MX Quad-core smartphone that is slated be available in June. The handset is the first to feature the new Exynos A9 quad-core chipset, which will reduce CPU power consumption by up to 20% compared to earlier versions. The device is also equipped with a 4-inch 960 x 640-pixel display, a 1,700 mAh battery, an 8-megapixel BSI camera with an f/2.2 aperture and MEIZU’s unique Android 4.0-based Flyme OS. The MX Quad-core will be available for ¥2,999 ($480) in China or HK$3,099 ($400) in Hong Kong for the 32GB variant and ¥3,999 ($635) or HK$4,099 ($530) for the 64GB model. MEIZU’s press release can be found after the break. More →

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mobile
April 16, 2012
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High-definition version of Motorola’s RAZR in the works

By on April 16, 2012 at 7:00 PM.

High-definition version of Motorola’s RAZR in the works

The name DROID RAZR HD has appeared in the EXIF data from a series of images uploaded to Picasa by a Motorola employee. The EXIF data shows that the handset is running Android 4.0.3 and its camera is equipped with a f/2.4 aperture camera. The photos in question were uploaded by Vic Yu, who is a software engineer and program manager at Motorola Mobility according to his Google+ and LinkedIn profiles. Last month, the first image of what was believed to be the unannounced DROID Fighter surfaced on a Chinese forum. The handset is said to be equipped with the same massive 3,300 mAh battery that is found in the RAZR MAXX and a 4.6-inch high-definition display. The phone also lacked the Android navigation buttons found on earlier RAZR models, suggesting that it makes use of the on-screen buttons found in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The DROID RAZR HD could possibly arrive on Verizon Wireless as the DROID Fighter, although nothing is confirmed for the time being. It should be noted that EXIF data can easily be manipulated, but an image of the data can be found after the break. More →

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Exclusive
April 16, 2012
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Samsung Galaxy S III launch details reveal multiple models, official device of 2012 Olympics

By on April 16, 2012 at 3:05 PM.

Samsung Galaxy S III launch details reveal multiple models, official device of 2012 Olympics

As we get closer to the official announcement of Samsung’s Galaxy S III, more information is beginning to surface. In addition to our exclusive reports on the device’s specifications and materials, we have now learned new details surrounding Samsung’s launch and marketing push for its new flagship handset. We have been told that there will be a huge international roll-out for the Galaxy S III, and the sleek new smartphone will be the official device of the 2012 Summer Olympics — this is one reason we’re told Samsung is hosting its unveiling event in London. In addition, there could be simultaneous launch events in New York City, Seoul and Dubai according to our source. We are also told that the Samsung Galaxy S III will come in two color options, one in blue and black, and a second in white. There will be 16GB and 32GB models as well, and additional specs include a 1080p HD display, a quad-core Exynos processor and integrated 4G LTE. More →

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Exclusive
April 16, 2012
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Samsung Galaxy S III to feature ceramic and metal case, physical home button

By on April 16, 2012 at 11:35 AM.

Samsung Galaxy S III to feature ceramic and metal case, physical home button

We exclusively reported that the Samsung Galaxy S III will feature a ceramic case, but looking at Samsung’s Unpacked event invitation that went out Monday morning, it appears that there could be another material in play as well. It looks like it’s a brushed blue metal, possibly aluminum or stainless steel, but it could also be a brushed blue plastic — Samsung smartphones have made use of plastic cases with a brushed finish multiple times in the past. Lastly, we have heard from a trusted source that the Galaxy S III will feature a physical home button in the middle of the device under the display, and it won’t use the on-screen navigation buttons Google introduced in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

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mobile
April 16, 2012
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Sprint Galaxy Nexus pre-orders begin today, available April 22nd for $199.99

By on April 16, 2012 at 10:50 AM.

Sprint Galaxy Nexus pre-orders begin today, available April 22nd for $199.99

Sprint on Monday announced the availability of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The Android 4.0 handset can be pre-ordered today and will be available beginning Sunday, April 22nd for $199.99 with a new two-year agreement. “Galaxy Nexus is a beautifully designed smartphone that combines the Pure Google experience with the speed of Sprint’s upcoming 4G LTE network,” said Fared Adib, Sprint’s vice president of product development. “It represents the cutting-edge features and applications that customers expect and pairs perfectly with Sprint’s unlimited data plans to let our customers enjoy their wireless experience without worrying about overage charges or throttling.” As an extra bonus, Sprint is offering customers who register a Google Wallet account within a week of activating their devices a $10 instant credit, along with an additional $40 of credit to be delivered within three weeks. Customers who pre-order the Galaxy Nexus will begin receiving the device as early as Friday, April 20th. Read on for Sprint’s press release. More →

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Exclusive
April 16, 2012
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AT&T to launch HTC One X within a week

By on April 16, 2012 at 10:25 AM.

AT&T to launch HTC One X within a week

We have been informed by a trusted source that HTC’s One X, one of the best smartphones ever to come out of Taiwan, will be available on AT&T as early as this week. We have also been told that AT&T may announce availability details tomorrow, and that the handset’s release should follow within five to seven days of the carrier’s announcement. AT&T’s version of the HTC One X swaps out the quad-core Tegra 3 processor for a dual-core Snapdragon CPU in order to accommodate 4G LTE connectivity, but unlike the complete redesign we saw on Sprint’s EVO 4G LTE, the AT&T version should be nearly identical to the international model.

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mobile
April 16, 2012
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Here comes the Galaxy S III; Samsung schedules May 3rd device unveiling

By on April 16, 2012 at 7:50 AM.

Here comes the Galaxy S III; Samsung schedules May 3rd device unveiling

CTIA Wireless is shaping up to be a bit slow this year and despite the overlap in timing, it appears Samsung will look elsewhere to unveil its next-generation flagship smartphone. The South Korea-based consumer electronics giant circulated invitations on Monday to a press conference that will take place in London on May 3rd. While Samsung does not specifically name the highly anticipated Galaxy S III smartphone on the invitation — the only relevant text is “come and meet the next Galaxy” — it is widely believed that the company’s new flagship device will be the focus of the event. BGR exclusively reported in January that the Galaxy S III will feature a 1.5GHz quad-core Exynos processor, a 4.8-inch full-HD 1080p display, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera for HD video chats, 4G LTE, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and an ultra-thin case made of ceramic. Samsung Mobile’s “Unpacked” event will begin at 2:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 a.m. Pacific on Thursday, May 3rd, and the event will be live-streamed at http://www.facebook.com/samsungmobile.

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mobile
April 13, 2012
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Supposed Samsung Galaxy S III image surfaces

By on April 13, 2012 at 8:40 AM.

Supposed Samsung Galaxy S III image surfaces

An image of what is purported to be Samsung’s unannounced Galaxy S III smartphone — the vendor’s flagship mobile device for 2012 — has been published by a Polish blog. Claiming to have received the photograph from an anonymous source who said he was testing the device, oPDA.pl on Thursday posted the image to its site, stating that it received no details about the handset or its specifications. While the authenticity of the image is anything but certain, a few things can be gleaned from the image if the device is in fact real. More →

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mobile
April 11, 2012
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T-Mobile’s HTC One S event on April 18th suggests imminent launch

By on April 11, 2012 at 11:25 PM.

T-Mobile’s HTC One S event on April 18th suggests imminent launch

T-Mobile on Wednesday sent out invitations to a special event that will allow attendees to “be amongst the first to experience the HTC One S,” suggesting the carrier will soon launch its flagship Android phone for the first half of 2012. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 18th, about a week before the handset is rumored to launch on April 25th. HTC unveiled the One S alongside the One X at the Mobile World Congress trade show in February. The device features a 4.3-inch qHD Super LCD display, a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 16GB of internal storage, the same stunning 8-megapixel camera found on the One X and Sense 4.0 atop Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

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