Huawei Ascend II for US Cellular Available Online Next Week

The Huawei Ascend II will apparently be available online next week for US Cellular. The device is a mid-range follow-up to the original that doesn’t take many risks compared to the original. We’ve got a 3.5 inch display, a 5 megapixel camera and Android 2.3. This sequel might not be worth it to Ascend 1 users but if you’re looking to break into Android then you’ve got no reason not to consider the Ascend II. Unfortunately you may not be able to make your purchase decision after checking it out in person as this one won’t be in stores until January. No word on pricing yet but we’ll be able to figure all that out soon enough. [via AndroidGuys]

Nokia N9 gets unofficial UI tweak, makes MeeGo lie down and play landscape

Nokia's MeeGo'd pillowcase smartphone has been given a 90-degree twist. This new landscape mode works across the three main navigation screens and can be accessed through N9Tweak, an unofficial mod that can be downloaded through the phone's web browser. Any compatible apps will also launch lengthways, all of which should help alleviate those N900 pangs.

The Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab are not getting Ice Cream Sandwich

Earlier this week, Samsung named the devices that were due to get Ice Cream Sandwich in early 2012. They've now confirmed that the Galaxy S and 7-inch Galaxy Tab definitely aren't in line for the update.

According to Samsung's announcement, the phone and tablet lack sufficient RAM and ROM to run the new OS alongside TouchWiz and other “experience-enhancing” software.

Disappointing news for 10 million Galaxy S users out there - especially if you stop and think about the fact that the processor and memory specs of the Galaxy S are pretty much the same as the ICS-toting Nexus S.

Samsung skirts that issue by pointing to the fact that the Galaxy S has to run TouchWiz, carrier services, video calling software, and, in some markets, mobile TV. By comparison, the Nexus S just runs the Android OS alone. Sorry, Galaxy S users: you're out of luck.

A Windows Phone running LG Fantasy leaks out

LG has been quiet on the Windows Phone front this year. The only entry we've seen from the Korean giant was the LG Jil Sander Mobile. The latter is hardly a new product as it is entirely based on the Optimus 7 from a year ago.

It appears however, that the company has a brand new device in the works. A member of XDA Developers has obtained a pre-production unit of a yet to be announced, Windows Phone 7.5 Mango sporting, LG smartphone, dubbed (at least for the time being) Fantasy. Check it out in the photos below.

We know practically nothing about the specs of the smartphone, save for the fact that its sports a 4" IPS screen, and Microsoft's latest mobile OS on board.

The LG Fantasy will reportedly be unveiled sometimes during Q1 of 2012. We guess that a CES or MWC announcement is likely. We will cover both live, so expect an update as soon as we get the full scoop on the device.

Source | Via

Happy Holidroid Contest: Random Winner – Better Hurry!

f you’re unsure what this whole "Holidroid Contest" thing is all about, be prepared to get excited. From November 24th through December 25th, Phandroid is giving away a Kindle Fire every single day along with other great prizes like the Galaxy Nexus Galaxy Tabs, JAMBOX, SmarTouch Gloves, Android Phones, Android T-Shirts, Seidio Vouchers and more. Read our announcement post for details.

Yesterday’s Winner

For Wednesday’s Phandroid ornament challenge there were also a lot of amazing entries and after randomly selecting from our top 15 — Lee_Bay took home the prize with his almost 3-peice ornament, transforming his whole Christmas tree into a 3D Phandroid logo. Great job, Brandon and fam!

So, once again congrats to TechJunkie198 and Lee_Bay! We also want to give a warm — almost awkwardly long — embrace to everyone else that participated in our video and ornament challenge. Giving away prizes ain’t easy and I wish you all could win but I guess, that’s just how contests work. Let’s see what’s up for grabs today:

Amazon Kindle Fire

The Kindle Fire could be this holiday’s hottest product: at only $199 it’s not only one of the most  affordable Android tablets, it’s also one of the best. That’s a killer combination. With a beautiful UI, great battery life, carefully curated apps/games, and an amazing array of media options thanks to Amazon’s Digital Content Ecosystem... the Kindle Fire is a sure win. Good luck winning one in our contest, but at only $199 it’s probably worth buying one just in case!

Isotoner SmarTouch Gloves

Every single holiday season these SmarTouch smartphone gloves are consistently one of my favorite gift giving items. They eloquently solve one of the most fundamental problems a tech lover faces: using your device in cold weather. Wearing gloves usually prevents your touchscreen from working: take your phone out, take your glove off, use your phone, hand gets gold, shove phone in pocket, rush to get glove on. NO MORE! Isotoner’s SmarTouch gloves, designed in my colors and sizes for both men and women, has technology that passes the electrons your body gives off, through the gloves, onto the capacitive screen and allowing it to work. VOILA! Seriously. It works. Trust me. Try it... and you’ll love them forever.

Seidio $30 Voucher

With so much smartphone use comes battery drain. Thankfully, Seidio makes some awesome extended batteries that fit many smartphones, allowing you to get longer battery life with the same device. No more toting around a charger everywhere you go: just snag a Seidio and call it a day! Seidio also makes cases, holsters, and other great accessories for your smartphones.Check them all out here.

ZeeMote Bluetooth Game Controller

The Zeemote Bluetooth Game Controller compacts things into one comfortable, ergonomically sound gaming package. You use one hand and the controller has an analog stick with four action buttons on it. It’s a bit reminiscent of a Nintendo Wiimote – makes you wonder where the name was inspired from. There are many games in the Android Market already compatible with the Zeemote, including the popular title R-Type, and you may even be able to use it with some of your emulators. It goes perfectly with many Android devices, from 3.2 inch phones to 10.1 inch tablets. And if you want the ultimate gaming experience, Zeemote + Phone/Tablet + TV + HDMI-out= awesome.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

Everyone seems to be craving Samsung Android devices these days, and for good reason. Samsung makes some of the best hardware out there, coupled with great software integration, and the Galaxy Nexus (above) and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus are two great examples of Samsung’s industry leading products. These devices were sponsored directly by Samsung, thanking our readers and forum members for their excitement, interest, and support over the past year. With a 7-inch screen, 1.2GHz dual core processor, 1GB RAM, MicroSD slot, camera that records in 720p HD, and screen that displays in 1080p HD, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is a high end alternative to the Kindle Fire… and you can win BOTH in our contest!

Today’s Contest Rules/Regulations:

For today’s contest, we will be going with a “Phandroid favorite” random winner challenge. To enter, you have have 1 hour from the time of this post (the exact amount of time it takes me to do my hair) to simply leave ONE comment down below, telling us exactly what “the holidays” mean to you. We will select a random winner Oh- and please make sure you have an email tied to your Disqus account. Last time we passed up TWO randomly selected winners because there was no way of contacting them. You guys ready!? GO!

• Read our Full Official Rules for information about eligibility
• This isn’t required but if you want to be nice… Visit Amazon.com by clicking here before you do your holiday shopping because you love us!

Looking for a great gift? Don’t forget about our Holiday Gift Guide!

Tomorrow’s Contest:

Tomorrow we’ll be giving away a HUGE prize pack that includes an Amazon Kindle Fire, Isotoner SmarTouch Gloves, a $30 Seidio voucher, Android T-Shirt, Zeemote, Jawbone Jambox, Galaxy Tab 7 Plus and a Galaxy Nexus! Be sure to check back often for your chance to win and happy holidays!

Samsung Galaxy S III Shows Up In “Leaked” Concept Images

Okay, so this is not the Galaxy S III. I don't care what you're hearing from around the internet. But it looks awfully pretty, doesn't it? These concept images came from a Russian website called Concept-Phones which shows off just that — user generated concepts. And the user did a fairly good job at that. I wont even go into the supposed specs of the device seeing how they're more of a wish-list than anything. Just expect a lot of “HD-this” and “quad-that” to make an obligatory appearance somewhere in there. One more time, there isn't anything official about this pic at all.

I feel like we barely got the Galaxy S II in our hands and now we've all got the Galaxy S III fever? That was fast.

Samsung GT-N8010 is the next Galaxy Note?

The Samsung Galaxy Note has yet to make its way over to the US, but it looks like the device already has a sequel in the works. A new Samsung device was reported as to have gained WiFi certification recently and it has the model number GT-N8010. If you're wondering what it has to do with the Galaxy Note, the Note has a model number of GT-N7000 and Samsung has been known for keeping similar naming traits with its devices, increasing the numbers to signify a newer version of the device or another device that features similar hardware.

If the deduction turns out to be accurate, we might be seeing a new Galaxy Note being introduced in the market sometime soon. Perhaps at the MWC in February 2012? Right now nothing is known about the device other than that it features dual-band WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity. However if it is a successor to the Note, you can expect a large display and of course - stylus input. Stay tuned and we'll keep you posted.

Nokia Lumia 800 likes to taste the rainbow, wants to try a splash of white and yellow?

Cyan and Magenta were a good start, but Nokia hasn't finished plucking eye-catching colors for its smartphone flagship. Alongside a not-exactly-unexpected white model, these leaked renders suggest that our favorite polycarbonate Windows Phone will net a zesty yellow (possibly lime green) wardrobe at some point in the future. According to MonWindowsPhone, details on timeframes and launch regions remain foggy and will depend on customer demand. If the phone fares well in certain locales, Nokia will likely be more willing to offer up some spicier colors.

Samsung Galaxy S II Duos Headed to Chine with Dual GSM/CDMA Support

After revealing a duo of dual-SIM handsets yesterday in the form of the Galaxy Y Duos and Galaxy Y Pro Duos, Samsung will add to their lineup of handsets with expanded radio capabilities. A new variation on the Samsung Galaxy S II is headed to China and will support both GSM and CDMA2000. The phone is known as — you guessed it — the Samsung Galaxy S II Duos. The specs largely mirror previous GS2 iterations and include a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, and 8MP camera with 1080p video recording. The phone ships with Android 2.3 but should be in line for an Ice Cream Sandwich update along with other members of the Galaxy S II roster. The world phone will be available from China Telecom.

Xperia PLAY gets Ice Cream Sandwich

Xperia PLAY owners sure are in for a treat. After getting OnLive compatibility yesterday, it looks like they're in for another treat soon. Some developers have managed to successfully port Ice Cream Sandwich over to the gaming handset. And just like most first version of custom ROMs - you can expect parts not to be working. But hey - having Ice Cream Sandwich is better than not having it at all, since Sony Ericsson left the Xperia PLAY out of its list of devices that will be getting the update. Suddenly the phone looks a lot better.

If you're keen on tracking the progress of Ice Cream Sandwich for the Xperia PLAY, head over to XDA-developers.

Samsung Galaxy S III: Concept rendering or leak?

It seems that the folks down at Concept Phones received an email with images attached (as pictured above) of a device that the person claims to be the Samsung Galaxy S III. That person went on to list down the specs of the device which to be honest seemed a little too good (and slightly outrageous) to be true, but we'll let you decide.

According to Ivan Ilchenko, the person who leaked/created the rendering, the photo appeared on Samsung's official page in Russia as well as on Russia's social network Vkontakte. The device apparently features a 5" HD Super AMOLED display and is "Universal" phone that runs on both Android 4.0 and Bada OS, while powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Samsung Exynos 4412 processor with TouchWiz 5 as its UI of choice.

Other specs include a 12MP camera, a 2MP front-facing camera, 32GB/64GB internal storage and support for a microSDXC card slot, a stylus, 4G LTE support, NFC and even USB 3.0. Is such a device even possible? Personally I drew the line at dual booting Android and Bada, but either way we suggest taking this with a grain of salt for now. At the very least we're left with a pretty decent rendering of what the Samsung Galaxy S III could look like.

Dropbox 2.0 for Android plays nice with Ice Cream Sandwich

Ever heard of Dropbox before? In the words of the Dropbox team, they offer “a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!” Sounds like a dream, and it is nice to see this particular service being made available to smartphones such as Android-powered devices. In fact, Dropbox has updated their software to hit version 2.0, which will incidentally work with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as well, and we are glad to say that Dropbox 2.0 is now available in the Android Market.

Of course, with every new iteration of a particular software, you can expect improvements and (hopefully positive) changes to be introduced, and the same applies to Dropbox 2.0. Some of the features in the app include Favorites that offers quick offline access to files, the ability to upload photos and videos in bulk, renaming of files and folders, single-tap access to all file and folder actions, an improved gallery view, the ability to upload from and export to local storage, as well as plenty of squashed bugs and stability improvements.

Sony Ericsson announces Android 4.0 update schedule, starts March / April 2012

Sony Ericsson's been putting its foot on the gas when it comes to releasing Ice Cream Sandwich update information for its 2011 smartphone lineup. Today the company announced that updates will begin in either late March or early April of 2012, just a touch later than previously suggested, while providing a schedule for when each phone can expect to receive the company's skinned variant of Android 4.0.

The first set of updates, due in late March or early April, will target the following devices:

A second wave will roll out starting at the end of April or in early May:

The updates will be available for download over 3G or Wi-Fi, with a tethered option also available. While Sony does caution that not all updates will be release simultaneously, the news should give some peace of mind to users considering a SE device this holiday season.

Galaxy Nexus LTE Bug Is a Figment of Your Imagination

Since the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, many a user has noticed fewer 4G LTE status bars than they are used to, leading to the idea that the phone must be suffering from some sort of radio bug. The one or two bars of service were accompanied by reports of dropped calls and low signal strength when measured at the dBm level. The reality, as per an investigation by AnandTech, is that the Galaxy Nexus may actually be reporting LTE signal strength more accurately than its Verizon predecessors.

Compared head-to-head with the LTE Droid Charge, nearly identical dBm readings resulted in two drastically different sets of status bars. For the Droid Charge, four bars. For the Galaxy Nexus, a mere one bar. It is important to note that the Charge and Galaxy Nexus use identical LTE radio chips, so the difference in signal strength opinion must operate at the software level. Ice Cream Sandwich seems to be reporting signal strength more precisely than previous versions of Android. The Galaxy Nexus theoretically should be receiving the same quality of signal as any other 4G LTE device operating on Verizon’s network within the same vicinity, regardless of a discrepancy in status bars. The strength of signal will likely grow as Verizon continues to improve their LTE network, and when it gets firing on all cylinders it will be a hard beast to slow down.

Intel unveils Android-running Medfield phone and slate

Intel has just revealed its latest smartphone and tablet reference platforms based on its Medfield chipset. The chip maker is dead set on grabbing a piece of the two markets under ARM's nose and obviously won't let the few unsuccessful previous attempts stop it.

Intel seems to have learned its lesson and has implemented all of Medfield's functional elements on a single chip. That's the way that all current smartphone and tablet chipsets are and it was about time Intel stopped trying to reinvent the wheel and follow suit. The so called "systems-on-a-chip" are known for their superior power efficiency, which is crucial to mobile devices.

As for the actual hardware on display, there were a couple of Android-running devices. The smartphone was powered by Gingerbread, whereas the tablet used Honeycomb. As Technology Review reported both felt really nice to use, matching the smoothness of the current Android top-dogs and iPhones.

A particularly impressive bit about the reference designs was that they were able to capture 8 megapixel images at a rate of 15 fps.

Intel's architecture VP Stephen Smith mentioned that his company expects to see the first Medfield-based market-ready devices announced in the first half of 2012, which is just around the corner.

Some CPU architecture competition should work to everyone's benefit, so we are pretty eager to see those. Knowing the current rate of mobile chipset progress, we can only imagine what will happen once a big player like Intel enters the market properly.

Source | Via

Nokia Lumia 900, Lumia 719, Windows Phone Tango and Apollo launch dates leaked by someone in Finland

Forget a pinch (or grain) of salt. Have a truckload of it nearby for this one, please.

If you're still reading, we'll assume you know how Internet rumors work (and how some of them don't pan out). Because this is just what this is. A rumor.

It goes like this. Someone in Finland told someone not in Finland (but who has a blog) when the Nokia Lumia 900 and Lumia 719 will be announced. Oh, and also when Windows Phone Tango and Apollo are going to hit the streets.

So the someone not in Finland (but with a blog) did what any sane individual not in Finland (but with a blog) would do – took this information and posted it (where else?) on said blog. From there, it made its way into the mobile blogosphere ‘at large'. And here we are. So without further ado, here's what someone in Finland thinks about all the aforementioned release windows.

The Nokia Lumia 900 (basically the bigger version of the 800) and the previously unheard of Lumia 719 will be unveiled during CES in January. That's also when Windows Phone Tango will be announced. Existing WP devices will be updated to Tango in the following months. Tango will support LTE and smaller phones (with smaller screens).

Windows Phone Apollo (a.k.a. WP8) will be sent to manufacturers in June 2012. Devices running it will then start showing up after that. Nokia will announce multiple high-end offerings during Nokia Connection 2012, including a new camera flagship (which slightly contradicts past rumors that the new Nokia imaging flagship will still run Symbian). Since Windows 8 (the ‘desktop' OS) will also be out by then, Nokia will also unveil its first tablet (running Windows 8, of course) during Nokia Connection. We're thinking this Nokia Connection will be a Nokia World-type event, albeit sooner than usual.

Windows Phone Apollo will (finally) support dual-core processors. That said, by then every high-end Android will have four cores, so speclovers still won't be enchanted by WP. Apollo will also come with NFC, and larger displays (we're thinking that actually means higher resolutions than the rather old 800×480 which has so far been the standard in WP).

And… that's it. Remember, this comes from someone in Finland. Moreover, it comes from someone in Finland who claims he (or she) works for Nokia. So make of it what you wish.

Truth be told, the above is rather logical. If you had followed the mobile industry, as well as Nokia's and Microsoft's past announcements on these matters, you probably could have ‘leaked' such information too, even if you aren't in Finland. But you didn't. This guy (or gal) did. And now we've written about it.

Motorola DROID 4 arriving December 22nd?

The Motorola DROID 4 was accidentally leaked before in the past, and it looks like Verizon has plans to launch the phone in the near future. According to a leaked internal document from the carrier that recently surfaced, the Motorola DROID 4 has got a release date of December 22nd, which is just a day away. However, the phone hasn't even been officially announced by the company, so we should expect something later today or an announcement on the day of the phone's release.

The DROID 4 will be the latest in the series of Motorola DROID phones, featuring a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and 4G LTE connectivity. The phone will features a 4″ display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, front facing camera, 8-megapixel rear camera, and Android Gingerbread. No word on pricing, but it should be in the higher range of Verizon's smartphone lineup. Anybody keen on picking this one up?

Here is how Android 4.0 with HTC Sense looks like

The first HTC Sense-d Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM broke cover, folks. Thanks to the effort of a team of developers over at XDA, we now have a chance to see what changes are coming to the HTC devices, which are bound for upgrade. In this particular case, the ROM has been flashed to an HTC Sensation.

As you can notice from the screenshots above, the HTC Sense 3.5 dressed ROM will offer a significantly different experience than the stock UI, which we've experienced on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. It will be closely related in terms of look and feel to the HTC Sense UI.

You are welcome to try the ROM on your compatible HTC device by clicking on the source link below. As always, beware of the potential risks which come with the operation.

Source

Verizon 4G LTE outage restored

Do you get the feeling that phone network outages are starting to become the blackouts and brownouts of our grandparents' generation? Of course, not having electricity is far more inconvenient compared to losing your data connection, as long as the phone is still able to make and receive calls. A few hours of outage on Verizon's 4G LTE network saw customers burning up the hotline service, but we are pleased to report that whatever issues Verizon had with their 4G network, has already been restored.

Here is a little background on the outage – complaints started to emerge at around 3.00am, where subscribers across the length and breadth of the US claimed that they have lost all data service. User feedback showed that 9.30am was when the 4G service was resurrected, with 3G capability experiencing the same thing slightly earlier. Well, better an outage at 3 in the morning than 3 in the evening, don't you think so?

Dell Streak Pro D43 hits China

We have seen a leaked Dell Streak Pro 101DL that is powered by Baidu's Yi platform, and here is news of the Dell Streak Pro D43 (the 101DL is the Japanese counterpart) that has just hit China. This is the first Baidu Yi-powered smartphone in the world, and it will come with similar specifications as that of the 101DL, including a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, quadband HSPA support, a 4.3" AMOLED display at 960x540 resolution, 8GB of internal memory, and a microSD memory card slot for future expansion purposes. What are some of the features? We are looking at basic voice control in Mandarin, the ability to synchronize your contacts, Baidu Chinese input, Yi's very own app store and 100GB of free cloud storage that is capable of supporting multimedia upload and secure file sharing. You can more or less say that the Yi platform is a different version of the Android platform, although it will not come with any of Google's services.

Android 4.0 updates for Sony Ericsson Xperia phones to start in March or April

Today Sony Ericsson has followed up on the great news that it brought us last month, that all the smartphones it has released in 2011 will be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. If you own an Xperia device launched this year, you should really be happy about this. So far, Sony Ericsson has been among the best at communicating with its customers about the update.

And today the company let us know just when you should expect that Ice Cream Sandwich update to hit your specific handset model. The first phones to receive the update will be the Xperia Arc S, Neo V, and Ray. The rollout for their updates will start in late March or early April.

Then about a month after that, in late April or early May, you can expect the updates for the Xperia Arc, Neo, Xperia Play, Mini, Mini Pro, Pro, Active, as well as the Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman.

UK: White Orange San Francisco II in the making

Remember the Orange San Francisco II? It's the successor to the wildly popular original San Francisco, and was recently launched by Orange UK in black for those of you looking for a smartphone bargain.

But what to do if you find the black color bland and uninspiring? Should you buy a black San Fran II just because it's cheap?

No need. A white version of the second San Francisco is on its way. And it should arrive pretty soon, since it's listed on Orange's “Coming Soon” page. No actual release date has been mentioned though, so you do need a bit of patience.

Either way, it's going to be here at some point. So lovers of white, or haters of black – rejoice!

Other than the paint job there's no difference between this and the already selling black San Francisco II of course. If you choose the white model when it becomes available, you'll get the same 3.5-inch 480x800 touchscreen, 800 MHz processor, 5 MP autofocus camera, HSPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS support, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. All you need to do is wait.

Verizon Galaxy Nexus software update coming soon to adjust signal strength indicator

Not long after launching the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Verizon Wireless is now getting ready to roll-out a software update for it.

ComputerWorld has it that the update should "adjust the device's signal strength indicator to more closely match other Verizon Wireless devices." This comes after various reports regarding signal strength inconsistency when the new smartphone uses Verizon's LTE network – however, a Verizon spokeswoman told ComputerWorld that "there is no issue with the performance of the device."

According to some Verizon service reps, the software update for the Galaxy Nexus should be out sometime in January.

HTC Sense with Ice Cream Sandwich leaked

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus might be the first smartphone from the Android family to sport Ice Cream Sandwich, but time will see other manufacturers receive this long awaited operating system update as well. It will still take months before HTC owners of select handsets are on the receiving end of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but it seems that the folks at XDA either own a time machine, or they are phone ninjas, having obtained an extremely early build of the HTC Sense user interface that is based on Ice Cream Sandwich.

Not much has changed from the current HTC Sense, but then again, this is an early build, so not much might be revealed just yet. Do expect more user interface changes to be introduced as the final version draws nearer to its release date. What do you think of HTC's Sense UI, or do you prefer the stock Ice Cream Sandwich experience? How about users of Samsung and their TouchWiz user interface? All in all, we cannot wait long enough for HTC's take of Sense on Ice Cream Sandwich in due time.

Android 2.3.5 update for T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II

T-Mobile is said to be introducing a gradual roll out of the Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread update for their Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone, going by the name software version T989VUVKL1. T-Mobile claims that those who install the update will benefit from various improvements “based on customer feedback" – and to put it in a more specific manner, this update will offer Caller ID enhancements, battery enhancements, and Wi-Fi calling enhancements among others.

T-Mobile says that this update is not compulsory, so basically, it you aren't having any issues or troubles with your Galaxy S II, then you can always put off the update. Apart from that, this update will be made available over-the-air (OTA), so you can forget about it being a manual download. It might take some time over the course of the next few weeks to see this update appear on your handset, hence being patient is a virtue here. [Support Page]

White Samsung Galaxy Y S5360 shows up in the UK for Christmas

We knew that the Galaxy Y, among other smartphones, will be offered in white for the Christmas holidays in Germany, but now the white Galaxy Y has appeared in the UK as well.

The black version of the phone has been on offer for a few months, but Phones4U has the white one on a few different offers. You can get it on a Pay As You Go plan for £79.95 (approx. €95) or for free on various plans for carriers such as O2, Orange, Vodafone and T-Mobile.

But before heading over to the source link for more pricing information be sure to check out our in-depth review of the Samsung Galaxy Y.

Phones4U also offers some other phones in white - like the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy Ace, if you're looking for a higher-end snow-colored droid by Samsung.

Source | Via

AT&T's Galaxy S II Gets Maintenance Upgrade to Android 2.3.6

AT&T is issuing an upgrade to Android 2.3.6 for owners of the Galaxy S II (not the Skyrocket, the original). There’s not much more to add than that since this was  simple bug-fixing upgrade so be sure to grab it with no delay and, as always, don’t panic if you don’t get it right away. Get to Settings > Software update > Check for updates to get started. [Samsung via AC]

Evernote for Android Update Tightens Things Up a Little Bit

Evernote has recently gottenn a major facelift and now the team behind its Android application are making sure their ducks are in a row. They have updated their application to spruce up a few minor things with a redesign of the login and registration screen, new icons to differentiate between different notebook types and your general slew of bug-fixing goodness. Find the full details below and head to the Android market fo your download.

Samsung Galaxy Note for AT&T Said to be On Its Way With LTE, Without Exynos

Rumor has it that AT&T’s gearing up to offer the Samsung Galaxy Note early next year and, as you might expect, 4G LTE will be in tow. One thing we didn’t imagine, however, is the lack of Samsung’s dual-core Exynos processor. 1Instead there’ll apparently be a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor inside. Apparently Exynos might not support LTE radios yet. It’s not unlike the reason why T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II didn’t get Exynos – it didn’t support HSPA+ 42. In any case, a CES announcement is expected so be sure to check back in about  a month’s time. [PocketNow]

HTC Thunderbolt OTA Update Coming Soon – Includes Bug Fixes and New Radio Version

Verizon is getting ready to push out a new OTA (over-the-air) update for the first 4G LTE device to hit the carrier — the HTC Thunderbolt. This will bring the T-Bolt up to software version 2.11.605.9, which contains the usual bug fixes and even a new baseband version. Improved radios are always fun. Other notable changes of the 36MB update include:

• Resolved issue with contact ringtones
• Improvements to notification volume
• Updated local streaming playback mechanism when network connection is not available
• Updated Twitter API for Peep/FriendStream
• Clock app included in All App list
• Improvements in Exchange ActiveSync

No word yet on exactly when Verizon plans to push the update to devices but it wont hurt to manually check for it yourself by jumping into your Settings > Software Update > Check Now. Let us know if anyone receives it!

Android 4.0.3 announced, bringing 'variety of optimizations and bug fixes' to phones and tablets

Merely a day after Verizon's version of the Galaxy Nexus was gifted with v4.0.2, Google itself is announcing Android 4.0.3, a so-called " incremental release of the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) platform." We're told that the new release includes a variety of optimizations and bug fixes for phones and tablets, as well as a small number of new APIs for developers. For those curious, the new API level is 15, and some of those new ones include social stream API in Contacts provider, Calendar provider enhancements, newfangled camera capabilities (apps can now check and manage video stabilization and use QVGA resolution profiles where needed) and accessibility refinements (improved content access for screen readers and new status and error reporting for text-to-speech engines). Moreover, we're promised minute improvements in "graphics, database, spell-checking, Bluetooth, and more." Finally, the company makes clear that going forward, it'll be "focusing its partners on Android 4.0.3 as the base version of Ice Cream Sandwich," with rollouts expected for both phones and tablets in "the weeks ahead."

Google Begins Android 4.0 Rollout to GSM Nexus S

 

The Android 4.0 rollout for the GSM/UMTS Nexus S has begun, according to a post to the official Google Nexus Twitter account. A corresponding help page has been set up over at Google’s support page to aid Nexus S owners in the transition to the latest version of Android. The rollout starts today and will continue to reach Nexus S owners throughout the month, though for the impatient we expect an official update file to surface online for those wishing to manually upgrade.

LG Prada 3.0 Pricing Unveiled

LG has unveiled the pricing of the Prada Phone 3.0 in the UK market. Priced at £500 or around $777 (SIM-free), the handset is equipped with a large 4.3-inch WVGA Nova display with a custom UI, a 1GHz dual-core processor, HSPA support, Wi-Fi, GPS navigation, an 8GB of internal memory and an 8MP rear-facing camera with 1080p video recording. The LG Prada 3.0 runs on the Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. [SoMobile]

Droid RAZR MAXX appears in Verizon Wireless inventory, details remain mysterious

Leave it to Motorola to milk the iconic RAZR branding for all it's worth. A new LTE phone has appeared in Verizon's inventory system, and dubbed the Droid RAZR MAXX, it seems to be at least a spiritual successor to the original MotoRAZR MAXX. Little else is known about the device, other than some EXIF data that hints at a similar 8 megapixel shooter. Like the variants we've seen floating around in China, could this option be sporting a 720p display? Perhaps a beefier battery? Or maybe it's just "maxxxxed" out with a few design tweaks and a slightly higher price. Place your bets while the gamblin' is good, folks. Soon enough, we're going to know what makes this one tick.