LG rolls out the Optimus 3D, a first in Tri-Dual architecture

The new LG Optimus has been a word on the street since it was first unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona back in February this year. Today LG pulled the trigger and officially launched the long-awaited LG Optimus 3D, an innovative new smartphone featuring second generation dual core technology and an advanced "Tri-Dual" architecture.

The LG Optimus 3D takes the smartphone experience into new territory with its Tri-Dual configuration - dual-core, dual-channel and dual-memory - which allows for improved performance when multi-tasking, enjoying a movie or playing graphics-intensive games. This LG smartphone is also a major step forward in the utilization of full 3D functionality in everyday life - users can record and immediately view content in 3D without the need for special glasses.

A small word on Tri-Dual:

LG's Tri-Dual architecture pushes the LG Optimus 3D's performance well beyond simple clock speed improvements. Other smartphones - even those with higher clock speeds and dual-core technology - suffer when it comes to actual performance because of the inefficiency inherent in a single-channel configuration. With a dual-channel configuration, data transfers take place simultaneously between the dual-core and dual-memory, resulting in noticeably faster performance. As a result, the LG Optimus 3D maximizes run-time efficiency leading to noticeably smoother, faster, and longer multi-tasking, browsing, gaming and multimedia enjoyment than ever before.

Noteworhty mentions:

The LG Optimus 3D can record genuine 3D footage with image stabilizing support. Playback on the phone itself does not require require special 3D glasses (technology similar to Nintendo's 3DS). HDMI 1.4 connector, DLNA ceritified, 4.3inch WVGA display HD (up to 1080p in 2D and 720p in 3D). Conversion software included to render 2D photos into their 3D equivalent. Support for 3D youtube sharing and a 3D augmented reality browser (in collaboration with Pioneer).

Availability: Europe first, shortly after 60 markets around the world over the next weeks.
source: Akihabara News

Gingerbread for HTC Desire Really is Coming Afterall

As I was writing this post about how disappointing it was that Gingerbread was not coming to the HTC Desire, news broke that it actually is coming.

Originally HTC UK stated on its Facebook page that they just couldn't get it done.

“Our engineering teams have been working hard for the past few months to find a way to bring Gingerbread to the HTC Desire without compromising the HTC Sense experience you've come to expect from our phones. However, we're sorry to announce that we've been forced to accept there isn't enough memory to allow us both to bring Gingerbread and keep the HTC Sense experience on the HTC Desire.”

Then, today there's a post saying that there will be Gingerbread for the Desire.

“Contrary to what we said earlier, we are going to bring Gingerbread to HTC Desire.”

All the collective Desire owners sigh in relief. Not that the average user will notice a whole lot of change, but an update is an update and its nice to be on the latest firmware instead of being stuck in what I like to call “The Vista of Android”, 2.1, like the HTC Hero (UK).
source: The Gadgeteer

HTC 7 Pro arrives on Cellular South

While all the major carriers in the country have already started partying with Windows Phone 7 handsets, it looks like the smaller carriers finally starting to arrive. Cellular South has just announced that the HTC 7 Pro is now available on its network. Previously exclusive to Sprint (in the US), the WP7 phone from HTC is one of the few slide-out QWERTY WP7 devices available on the market today.

The HTC 7 Pro features a 3.6″ (480 x 800) display, 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 16GB of internal storage, 5-megapixel rear camera, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Dolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancement, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS, and of course, the Windows Phone 7 operating system.

The phone will be available starting today at all Cellular South retail stores and online, for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in reward card and a 2-year contract with Cellular South.
source: Ubergizmo

Motorola Droid 3 / Milestone 3 announced in China as Moto XT883

Motorola has officially announced its third-generation Milestone Android smartphone - unfortunately, it did it only in China. The Chinese version of the handset is called Motorola XT883, and looks exactly like the Droid 3 / Milestone 3 we've seen in the leaked photos appeared in the last few months.

The XT883 will be available starting the third quarter of the year, being offered by China Telecom (the only Chinese carrier that still has a CDMA network).

The new Milestone features Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a 4 inch qHD (960 x 540) display, a redesigned 5-row QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi, GPS, 1GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, front-facing camera, 8MP rear camera with 1080p video recording, and 16GB of internal storage space.

As previously reported, Verizon may launch the Motorola Droid 3 in the US on July 7. Now that the Chinese edition of the smartphone has gone official, this could really happen. We'll let you know!
source: Unwired View

Sony Ericsson Xperia Duo picture leaks

It was certainly obvious that in this day and age Sony Ericsson just can't afford to not have a dual-core smartphone out there, yet that's exactly the case even now. Things are set to change though, with the company apparently preparing to launch a new Android-powered smartphone that will have a dual-core processor. The name has even been trademarked already – it will be called Sony Ericsson Xperia Duo.

And today what may just be the Xperia Duo's first photograph has leaked, courtesy of Xperia Blog. Here it is in all its glory:

Presuming this isn't fake, the Xperia Duo seems to signal a slight change in Sony Ericsson's design philosophy for its Android devices, as its shape is a bit more curvy than the very angular Xperias of yesteryear.

Judging by the above picture (and, you have to understand, only by that, since no actual information about specs has been leaked alongside it), the Xperia Duo will have a gigantic screen, at least 4.3 inches diagonally, maybe even 4.5. The display will be almost edge to edge, as you can see, so as to not make the whole shell of the device unnecessarily huge.
source: Unwired View

Motorola launches Milestone 3 (Droid 3) in China

The Motorola Milestone 3 or better known as the Droid 3 in the US has been leaked a number of times in recent weeks: first in specs and images; and then in a tutorial video. Now it looks like Motorola is ready to officially unveil the phone to the world. But unlike most of its launches that happen on this side of the world, the Motorola Droid 3 will make its debut in the eastern part of the world: China.

The phone will be launched as the Milestone 3 (previous Droids there were called Milestones as well) and it looks like the previously leaked specs were on the dot. The phone will pack a dual-core processor (make and speed unmentioned), Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system, 4″ qHD display, 5-row QWERTY keyboard, 8-megapixel camera with LED flash, 1080p video-capable, front facing camera, 16GB of internal storage (expandable to 32GB), business and security apps preloaded with the phone, and World Phone calling capabilities in over 200 countries. The phone will be available from authorized Motorola resellers and China Telecom's stores in Q3 2011.

No word about pricing or when it'll make its debut in the US, but let's hope we won't have to wait too long to find out.
source: Ubergizmo

Samsung Galaxy S 4G Gets Leaked Gingerbread Build

A day after a pair of Android 2.3.3 builds leaked for the Samsung Captivate on AT&T, T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S 4G has received its very own taste of Gingerbread. The new build has already been rooted, with success coming in the battery life department. The new update combined with root and minus pre-installed bloatware has equated to 50 percent better battery life, according to members of XDA's developer forums. You can find the download and instructions to do the same there as well. Follow the XDA source link below.
source: Android Phone

Cellular South HTC 7 Pro now available for $199.99

The HTC 7 Pro is now available at Cellular South, just like we heard a couple of months ago that it would be. Just a few days ago, on Monday, the HTC 7 Pro was launched by US Cellular, and now Cellular South follows suit.

The Windows Phone 7 device can be yours if you agree to part with $199.99 (after a $50 mail-in reward card) and to sign a new two-year contract with the carrier. The phone is available in all Cellular South stores, online, and via telesales.
source: Unwired View

Bell HTC Sensation 4G will be available on July 5

It seems that with each day that passes, we get some more tidbits of information about Bell's launch of the HTC Sensation 4G, the Taiwanese manufacturer's current non-3D flagship smartphone. First of all we saw it already listed in the carrier's inventory systems, then Bell officially said it was coming soon.

Today we have a leaked document that gives us a clear release date and, thankfully, it's sooner than the ‘mid-July' time frame we had heard before.

According to the above document obtained by MobileSyrup, the Sensation 4G will be officially out at Bell on July 5. That's just a couple of weeks or so away, so if you're in Canada and want to get your hands on the latest and greatest from HTC, you only need a bit more patience.
source:Unwired View

Nokia Windows Phone 7 devices released in Europe first?

Folks in the US might be in for a disappointment if the following rumors turn out to be true. According to some reports online, the vice president of Nokia Europe mentioned that Nokia's first Windows Phone 7 devices will be released in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK first; later this year. However, a Nokia spokeswoman, Anna Martin, refused to confirm his comments about the release of the first Nokia WP7 phones.

If this is true, that means US consumers won't be the first to get their hands on Nokia WP7 phones - which is understandable, given Nokia's presence in Europe compared to the US, but it's quite odd that the phone won't be launched in Finland, Nokia's home country. This could mean that the VP forgot to mention Finland, or Finland is not part of the launch. But regardless of where they launch first, I'm sure everybody is just looking forward to find out what the new WP7 phones will be like.
source: Ubergizmo

India: Maxx Mobiles launches MX372 and MQ368, two new cheap dual-SIM phones

One of the phone manufacturers that we don't get to write about all that often is India's Maxx Mobiles. Well, today we've got something new from that exact outfit.

Maxx Mobiles has launched two new dual-SIM phones, the MX372 and MQ368, the latter having a full physical QWERTY keyboard fitted. The MX372 has a ‘normal' T9 phone keypad, and both phones come quite cheap.

The Maxx MX372 has a 2-inch display, an optical trackpad, a 2 MP camera, a dedicated music button, and weighs just 61 grams. It comes with Java app support and Facebook and eBuddy IM preinstalled.

The MX372 comes in white, pink, purple, and wine red, and goes for Rs. 2524.

The MQ368 also has a 2-inch display, only this time it's in landscape. It's also got a 2 MP camera and optical trackpad. The MQ368 has a 1000 mAh battery, and even has special buttons for accessing Facebook (a la HTC ChaCha, no doubt) and MSN. The Maxx MQ368 costs Rs. 2636.

Both phones will be available only in Mumbai at first, then slowly reaching the rest of the country through retail outlets such as Planet M, Tata Croma, Hyper City, Star Bazar, Mobile & Gadgets, Indian Naval Canteen, Kings Electronics, Hotspot, Reliance Web World and Next electronics.
source: Unwired View

Motorola Milestone 3 (Droid 3) Released In China

The Motorola Milestone 3 (Droid 3) will make its debut in the Chinese market. The phone features a dual-core processor, the Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, a 4-inch qHD display, a 5-row QWERTY keyboard, an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash, a 1080p video-capable front facing camera, a 16GB of internal storage (expandable to 32GB), business and security apps preloaded with the phone, and World Phone calling capabilities in over 200 countries. The Milestone 3 will be available from authorized Motorola resellers and China Telecom's stores in Q3 2011. [Ubergizmo]

Crackle streams free movies to your Android device

Want to stream movies onto your phone but don't feel like paying money for Netflix or any similar service? How about the option of watching blockbuster movies and TV series without getting into trouble with the law? Say hello to Crackle, the ad-supported video on demand streaming service. Functioning pretty much just like any other video on demand service, Crackle lets users watch their favorite TV Shows and movies legally, on their mobile devices, anytime, and anywhere they want.

However there's a catch: adverts. Ads will be shown before a show starts, after a show starts, and in between as well. Fortunately they don't last very long, but they do somewhat interrupt the whole movie watching process. It takes away the immersiveness of the whole show. But hey - it is free after all, and you're not forced to use Crackle. You still have the option of using other services if you're unhappy with the usage of ads.

Head over to the Android Market now to download Crackle for your Android phone to give it a shot.
source: Ubergizmo

Nokia rumored to be releasing a slide-out QWERTY Windows Phone 7 device this year

We've all heard news about Nokia releasing Windows Phone 7 devices in Europe before the rest of the world yesterday, but we still have no idea what the phones will be. Eldar Murtazin previously leaked out information about the phones being the W7 - an N8-looking device that's running WP7 and has a 12-megapixel camera instead. One of the other phones mentioned will be a QWERTY-keyboard-toting phone.

Well, the folks over at ShinyShiny.TV reported that a Nokia rep they were pressing for details, revealed that Nokia will be releasing a QWERTY phone in its 2011 line up. It's expected to be a BlackBerry-rivaling device, so it might have a portrait slider keyboard just like the Dell Venue Pro. The Nokia rep also revealed that Nokia's integrated features would be deep within the phone instead of apps preloaded and being called “customized”. How this will affect WP7 updates, we have no idea, but we're pretty stoked about Nokia WP7 phones. Release them already!
source: Ubergizmo

T-Mobile Announces Release Details on Samsung and HTC Smartphones

T-Mobile has confirmed the release of three Android-based smartphones from Samsung, consisting of the Samsung Exhibit 4G, Gravity Smart, and Dart (pictured). The entry-level Samsung Dart, which is available today for free on a two-year contract, features a 600MHz processor and 3.1-inch QVGA display. Meanwhile, the high-end Samsung Exhibit 4G has a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and runs on Android 2.3; and the Gravity Smart has a QWERTY keyboard and Android 2.2. These two smartphones will be launched on June 22 at the T-Mobile online store.

In another T-Mobile update, it has also announced that HTC Sensation 4G (pictured) can now be purchased directly. It costs $200 with a two-year contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. Those who would purchase the smartphone online can also enjoy the additional $50 price slash, bringing the cost down to $150. The HTC Sensation has a 4.3-inch qHD touchscreen display, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, and Android 2.3 with Sense.
source: Gadget.com

Samsung's three new Bluetooth headsets to be sold at T-Mobile

Samsung has just announced a trio of unique Bluetooth headsets that will be sold from its website and at T-Mobile retail outlets and online store. Called the HM3700, HS3000 and HM1700, each headset is different from one another and is designed with different users in mind.

The HM3700 is a Bluetooth headset that works as a communication device as well as a headset for you to listen to music with. Normally it functions as a conventional noise-cancelling wireless hands-free device, but when you're not using it to arrange important meetings or discussing big deals, it readily transforms into a stereo Bluetooth headset just by plugging in stereo ear buds. The HM3700 also supports voice commands for answering and making calls.

The HS3000 is a clip-on stereo Bluetooth headset that features Samsung's Sound Alive enhanced stereo audio technology that makes calls easy to hear even in high-noise environments. It also transforms into a stereo headset just by plugging in a pair of ear buds for streaming audio from your Bluetooth device. It has an easy-access answer/call button and MP3 player-style music controls.

The HM1700 is a Bluetooth mono-headset designed for the more budget-conscious consumer. For folks who don't need fancy stereo sound and just want a headset to make and receive calls - this one is for you. It also streams music by plugging in some ear buds, but again you'll only get to enjoy mono-channel audio. However, the HM1700 headset can be paired up with up to two devices at the same time, which is optimal for people with more than one phone but don't want to deal with having to use two headsets at the same time.

The HM3700 ($59.99) is available now at www.samsung.com, T-Mobile retail stores and at www.T-Mobile.com. The HS3000 ($59.99) and HM1700 ($39.99) will be available in the coming weeks from the same outlets as well.
source: Ubergizmo

HP Pre 3 pre-orders start in the UK, £349.99 and shipping on July 8

This February, HP announced its new lineup of webOS-powered hardware for 2011, while also getting rid of the Palm brand. Since then, we've played with the devices, and while we've heard a lot of things about the TouchPad and the Veer, the Pre 3 isn't a device we get to write about every week. Which is a bit strange, since it's HP's flagship smartphone. Perhaps the brand evokes Palm's failures to get any webOS traction.

Anyway, the Pre 3 is now up for pre-order in the UK, with two well known independent online retailers already listing it for similar prices, and with deliveries expected to start at the beginning of July.

First off, Play.com lets you pre-order a Pre 3 for £349.99, and it promises it will start shipping the devices on July 8. Now that price really is very good, especially if you consider what you're getting for the money in terms of hardware and integrated software. Then again, it may still prove too expensive to overcome the main issue that webOS has: the lack of apps. That's what's always been plaguing this OS, but hopefully HP will manage to do something about that over the course of this year. The OS is solid, functional, and dare I say it – beautiful – but in today's app-ridden world, that still isn't enough to reach mainstream smartphone success.

Clove is the other UK retailer which is already taking pre-orders for the Pre 3. It asks £360, and announces delivery in “early July” – so about at the same time as Play.com.

If you're looking forward to getting the latest webOS-powered smartphone, and want to be among the first people in the UK to own it, you should probably pre-order one from the retailer that you like most.
source: Unwired View

Sony Ericsson WT19i leaks, may be another Android Walkman

A yet-unheard of Sony Ericsson Android-powered smartphone has leaked via user agent profiles discovered by Xperia Blog. The model number is WT19, and it will have two versions, WT19i (that's going to be the ‘international' one as per Sony Ericsson's traditional naming scheme), and the WT19a (which may have some American-specific bands).

Not much information has surfaced in those UAProfs, however we do expect to find out more about this device soon. What we do know already is that it will be powered by a Cortex A8 processor, it will have 320×480 screen resolution, and, based on that possibly a screen size between 3 and 3.2 inches. The WT19 will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
source: Unwired View

Sony Ericsson W8 Walkman Android smartphone won't be launched in the UK

If you are in the UK and were anxiously waiting for the Sony Ericsson W8 to launch so you could grab it, well, then, first of all – why? Second, you'll be very disappointed to hear that the first Android Walkman phone will not be launched in the UK.

Sony Ericsson responded to a request for comment by SoMobile and had this to say about the W8 Walkman's availability:

"We can confirm that the W8 Walkman phone will be available in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The Walkman™ branding and the legacy from previous Walkman™ phones is very strong in these particular markets and therefore we decided to launch the phone in these markets."

So there you have it, folks. The W8 seems like it won't reach European shores, at least not officially. It will be sold where the Walkman brand is still strong, which apparently means Asia-Pacific. Before you weep, consider that this may be all for the best. After all, spec-wise, the W8 really failed to impress. And it's become the second of two Walkman smartphones announced so far that will only be sold in Asia, the other one being the China-bound WT18i.
source: Unwired View

Today's Mobile News in Brief (June 14, 2011)

As reported here on Cell Phones Etc. and across the Web, here's your daily brief on what happened in the world of mobile phones this Tuesday, June 14th, 2011.

Rogers Drops No-contract Prices Of The Focus, Streak And Curve 8520

Rogers has dropped the no-contract price of a few devices, which means it's clearance time and more devices are en route. The Windows Phone 7 Samsung Focus is now $499.99 (was $599.99), Android 2.2 powered Dell Streak now $499.99 (was $599.99) and the BlackBerry Curve 8520 $250 (was $350).

MobileSyrup

Samsung's "Attempt To Harass" Apple Gets Rough Response

Remember that one time when Samsung asked Apple to hand over the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 for legal inspection, just in case the companies' future products crossed the line between similar and strikingly similar yet again? Well, Apple didn't like that very much, and has called the request "copyist." As part of the lawsuit, a federal judge ordered Samsung to give Apple access to the Galaxy S II, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, the Infuse 4G, and the Infuse 4G LTE, so that the Apple legal team could determine if its intellectual property rights had been violated.

CrunchGear

Millennial: Android Maintains Lead In May, Windows Phone Usage Nearly Doubled

Millennial can give us a good assessment of the current smartphone and connected device markets. Android was flat compared to April maintaining its 53% share of Millennial impressions, and Apple's iOS lost one percentage point in May as it slid to 27%. Apple is also Millennial's top-ranked manufacturer, with 30.84% of all ad impressions served to iOS devices. Samsung found itself in the No. 2 spot in May with 13.59%, followed closely by RIM at 13.30%. HTC and Motorola rounded out the top-5 with 10.98% and 9.47%, respectively.

BGR

Starbucks Rolls Out Mobile Payment App For Android Users, Java Junkies

After having already introduced its own iOS app, Starbucks has now decided to bring mobile mocha payments to Android users, as well. With the free Starbucks for Android app, all you have to do is add credit to your mobile Starbucks Card, scan the app's barcode at the cash register, and that triple shot skinny latte will be yours to pound. Available on devices running Android 2.1 or above, the service will also locate all outlets within your immediate vicinity, while offering even more coffee-based incentives, via Starbucks' rewards program.

Engadget

TELUS Slashing International Roaming Rates June 27th By 60%

Today, TELUS noted that effective June 27 the drop has actually come in at 60%. It'll be interesting to see if Bell and Rogers follow. For Western Europe, Mexico, Oceania the voice drops to $1.50/minute (savings of 25-50%), and data goes to $10/MB (60% savings). For the Middle East, Caribbean, Latin America, China, India and Africa the voice drops to $2.50/minute (17-38% savings), plus the data falls to $10/MB (60% savings).

MobileSyrup

New dual-screen LG Android phone for T-Mobile pictured

An unannounced and yet unnamed LG Android handset has been spotted recently in the UK, during an event where it was showcased alongside some other US-bound phones.

The handset is made for T-Mobile and, while it doesn't seem to be a high-end one (firstly because its main display is not too big), it's certainly very interesting: it has a sliding QWERTY keyboard that features a small touchscreen display in the middle.
source: Unwired View

HTC ChaCha Facebook handset might end up at AT&T based on FCC filings

Most smartphones these days come with some sort of Facebook plug-in or widget, letting you know what your friends are up to through their wall posts, but what happens when you're a true blue Facebook fan, and want to remain up-to-date with the latest happenings on your Facebook account? Well, AT&T subscribers at the moment can always settle for the HTC ChaCha which is a Facebook-centric phone, where it has already made its way to the FCC in a filing.

Known as the HTC PH06130, the ChaCha has already picked up FCC approval for GSM 850 and 1900 bands, in addition to WCDMA bands II and V. Needless to say, those are the same bands that will be used by AT&T in the US, so you can be more or less sure that the ChaCha is ready to rock and roll over at AT&T.

Just a quick recap – the HTC ChaCha will be an Android-powered device that comes complete with a full QWERTY-style keyboard that is reminiscent of the BlackBerry. An 800MHz processor runs proceedings from within, while a 2.6″ touchscreen display rounds off the list of features alongside a tiny Facebook button that allows you to post content online in a jiffy. As for pricing or availability, we know that as much as one is able to tell you who the list of stocks that will go up tomorrow, today.
source: Ubergizmo

Sprint will cut prices for Google Nexus S, HTC Evo 4G, and Evo Shift 4G on June 24

June 24 is the big date when Sprint will finally release two of its most anticipated Android-powered devices ever, the HTC Evo 3D smartphone, and the HTC Evo View 4G tablet. The Evo 3D will be priced, as has become customary in the US, at $199.99 with a new two-year contract.

Yet Sprint has some other, older smartphones which it's now selling for that exact same price. And some people would presumably be put off by having to pay the same price for older devices as they do for the newest, latest, and greatest. So Sprint has decided to take some action, and it's what most US carriers do in situations like this – cut prices for the older devices.

Now let's get something clear – “older” in this case is the term being used in the Android world sense, not in its actual literal sense. Devices only a couple of months old or so aren't actually ‘old' by any other standard than the amazingly fast pace at which new Android hardware comes out.

That said, if you wanted to get a Google Nexus S 4G, an HTC Evo 4G, or an HTC Evo Shift 4G from Sprint, it's better to wait a few days at this point. Buying either of those handsets right now would make you feel sorry you did so, because starting on June 24, they'll all be discounted.

From that day on, Sprint will sell the Nexus S 4G for $149.99, and both the Evo 4G as well as the Evo Shift 4G for $99.99. The prices are available to you if you choose to sign a new two-year contract with the carrier of course.

And all of these are still capable devices, so if you wanted to get a smartphone, yet don't want to pay $200-ish for it, just wait until June 24 and then go to a Sprint shop or online and get your cheap(er) smartphone.
source: Unwired View

LG Optimus 3D set to ship

LG has revealed that they will be shipping their Optimus 3D soon – hitting Europe first before it arrives in the US. This will be their flagship device which is already available for pre-order at Amazon UK, targeting a July 13th shipping date, and if you want to purchase it without a contract, then the price will be a rather steep $969 thereabouts, after conversion, of course. More than 60 other regions will be on the receiving end of the new Optimus 3D within the next several weeks, dropping yet another hint that the AT&T Thrill 4G might be out before summer is over.

The LG Optimus 3D in all its different versions will rely on a dual-core TI OMAP4430 processor to get the hard work done, boasting a 4.3″ glasses-free 3D display as well as the ability to record 3D video in 720p or 1080p video in 2D using its twin rear cameras. Other hardware specifications include an HDMI 1.4 output and DLNA video sharing which sends 3D video over to TVs and the local network.

It is rather unfortunately that the last check revealed the LG Optimus 3D running on Android 2.2, so we do hope at least a Gingerbread update is in the works in due time.
source: Ubergizmo

HTC EVO 3D will not have Full HD video recording capability

We live in a high definition world these days, and there are plenty of Full HD devices running around out there, with the chief culprit being those huge flat screen TVs. Smartphones are not too far behind either in terms of capturing High Definition video, with most of them doing just 720p instead of 1080p that is found in Full HD – and the upcoming HTC EVO 3D is one of them that fall under the former category unfortunately.

This is a bummer, since the HTC EVO 3D on Sprint was originally touted to feature 3D video recording at 720p, while standard 2D recording is done at Full HD 1080p. The specifications seem to have taken a knock, as video recording for both specifications have been knocked down to 720p, 3D or no 3D.

Sprint apologized that the 1080p mention was “a typo in the spec sheet”, but do you think it could actually be a last-minute decision that cause the disablement of a feature which might actually have pushed the handset's processing power to the hilt, hence resulting in a poorer battery life? This won't be a make-or-break decision, but we're sure everyone would want more for the same price.
source: Ubergizmo

Dual-screen LG Android phone Uncovered in the UK!

Pocket-lint.com has uncovered what appears to be a working Dual-screen Android phone made by LG. The T-Mobile braded phone was discovered at a small London event hosted by Orange and Kineto Wireless who where unveiling the Orange Signal Boost technology. No technical specifications or name has been announced and all that we really know so far is that the camera has an LED flash and the phone has a QWERTY keyboard and what looks to be Android 1.6. There are rumours that the device is an old prototype only just unearthed and there is also speculation that the device will only be available on the US market but we will be watching eagerly to see what happens.

More information about this new find can be found here

Amazon Sells Nokia E6 Smartphone

Amazon has started selling the unlocked Nokia E6 smartphone for $446 each. The handset features a 2.46-inch (640 x 480) touchscreen display, a full QWERTY keyboard, HSPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, a free navigation, an 8-megapixel camera with 720p video recording capability and an 8GB of on-board memory. Navigation is available via the free Ovi Maps Navigation with voice-guided directions. [Amazon]

Motorola Atrix finally arrives on our shores, RM 1,999 with no contracts

Ever since it won the title of best smartphone at CES 2011 in Vegas, we've been waiting in earnest for it to arrive at our shoes and today, it just about has. The Motorola Atrix itself is a nifty phone with a nice form factor and 4inch qHD, Gorilla Glass screen. Powering the Atrix is an Nvidia Tegra 2 Dual-Core processor with 1GB of RAM (which is double most other smartphones) and Android 2.2 at launch. While it sounds like nothing special, where the Atrix truly excels is in its flexibility and hybrid nature.

The Atrix gets its gold star with its peripherals, each giving the Atrix a different use and look. You can dock the phone in a lapdock, making it a mobile workstation with the help of the decent WebTOP pseudo-OS. The lapdock even charges the phone for you, extending the battery life by an estimated 8 hours. The best thing is that included with the OS is a full-fledged Firefox Web Browser and flash support.

On the flip side, flexing its multimedia muscle, the Atrix also has a multimedia dock which allows you to connect it to a TV or monitor with a HDMI port and use peripherals such as keyboard and mouse to make the Atrix a decent Multimedia PC. Streaming 1080p videos with ease, you can see where the processing power is used, delivering a smooth user experience even between menus.

The Motorola Atrix will be available starting today from all Brightstar distributors at an RRP of RM 1,999 for the phone only. The lapdock will run you an extra RM 1,399 and the multimedia dock an extra RM439. Currently there's no word on telco tie-ups as yet thought.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Report: Dual-core Google Nexus 3 on the way?

The Nexus One and Nexus S have one thing in common: They're both official 'Google Phones,' which means they get Android updates as soon as they're available. The fact that you don't have to wait for your carrier or manufacturer to get their ducks in a line is incredibly valuable to some users, so both phones have proved quite popular.

However, though both phones feature impressive specs, the Nexus One's release dates way back to January of 2010 and the Nexus S will celebrate its first birthday this December. Both phones hit before the dual-core 'superphone' trend kicked off in at CES in January of this year, so it won't be long before they're considered out of date. But fear not, Nexus fans, because Google's apparently got another Nexus up its sleeve, and this one has got a dual-core processor, a "monster" screen and 4G support to boot.

According to BGR sources, what's believed to be the next Nexus phone will feature a next-generation dual-core 1.2GHz or 1.5GHz CPU (likely an OMAP 4460 or an ultra-low-power 28nm Krait-based Snapdragon); 1GB of RAM; 1080p HD video capture and playback; a 1-megapixel front-facing camera; and a rear-facing camera with an "advanced 5-megapixel sensor delivering class-leading image quality in addition to superior low-light performance." All of this will run on Ice Cream Sandwich, aka Android 4.0 (or is it Android 2.4?).

Before you get really, really excited, BGR says it's also possible that this device is just the flagship/reference phone for Ice Cream Sandwich and not a Nexus-branded phone after all. Either way, it's expected to launch around Thanksgiving so we're hoping to find out more as that holiday draws closer.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Motorola DEFY Android 2.2 update now live in the UK

While HTC gets itself in the most almighty mess, Motorola's very-slow-but-steady approach to Android OS updates is continuing to pay off for its users. The manufacturer has just announced the arrival of the official Android 2.2 update for the UK Motorola DEFY, with the NECESSARY FILES now available for download via its support site.

The release notes are available as a PDF file here, if you'd like to have a look at what awaits DEFY users when they excitedly connect to their wi-fi tonight.

Forgot just how many really useful changes came in along with Android 2.2. It's a good day to be a DEFY owner.
source: Eurodroid

Next Nexus to Be 4G LTE Handset with Android 4.0, 720p Display [RUMORS]

Our friends over at BGR have quite a scoop on their hands, if news they have picked up from an inside source pans out. According to their report, the next device in Google’s Nexus lineup will be a phone set to beast mode. The handset, which may go by the name Nexus 4G, will feature a multi-core processor, but it supposedly won’t be the quad-core Tegra 3 chipset or even NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2 platform. Instead the third Nexus device would employ an OMAP 4460 or low-power 28nm Krait-based Snapdragon dual-core chip clocked at 1.2GHz or 1.5GHz. The devices display is said to be “monster-sized” (4.5-inch?) and will be capable of outputting images in 720p HD.

Bundled within the handset will be a 4G LTE radio and 1GB of RAM. A 1MP front-facing camera will compliment a 5MP rear camera with an advanced sensor that will more than make up for the seemingly low (for a high-end smartphone) resolution. The whole thing will run on Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), which eliminates the need for physical or capacitive buttons anywhere on the device.

While these specs sound quite amazing, we caution to take this all as rumor for now. The Nexus 4G name seems odd considering it could easily be confused with the already released Nexus S 4G though BGR does say this name isn’t necessarily final. They also state the handset may simply be a flagship phone being designed closely with Google for the launch of Ice Cream Sandwich and not the next Nexus at all. It could even launch as a flagship 4G LTE device for AT&T’s network. It sounds like some elements — namely the processor — are still up in the air, but we’ll take any configuration of the above specs, Nexus name or not.
source: Android Phone

HTC changes its mind again, now says the Desire will get Android Gingerbread

This would be funny, if it wasn't sad. HTC has issued another statement on Facebook (yes, that's where companies now announce stuff like this apparently – maybe they just forgot the password to HTC.com or HTC.co.uk) regarding the HTC Desire and its update to Android Gingerbread.

You may remember (but really, how can you forget?) yesterday's fiasco, when HTC's UK arm took to the same social network to announce, in one short paragraph, that it just can't make the Gingerbread update for the Desire happen. It quoted memory issues, and I went to great lengths to try and make sense of the situation back then.

Turns out I really shouldn't have, since today is a new day. And, in an even shorter announcement than yesterday's (at this rate, tomorrow HTC will say something in just one word or two – wanna guess what that could be?), the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer basically said that it will make an update to Gingerbread available for the Desire.

“Contrary to what we said earlier, we are going to bring Gingerbread to HTC Desire.”

That's it. The entire thing. No telling us how countless engineers had a sleepless night last night trying to figure out how to get past those insidious memory issues that HTC thought were unfixable just yesterday. No praising the genius engineer who finally realized it was all possible after all… Sad.
source: Unwired View

Motorola Milestone 3 (Droid 3) may not be launched in the UK

While we know that the Motorola Droid 3 might become available in the US as soon as next month (July), we haven't heard much about its arrival in the UK (or Europe in general) - where the smartphone should be released as Motorola Milestone 3.

Now, according to Clove, it looks like the Milestone 3 will not be available to British customers at all (although things are still open to change).

Certainly, until Motorola officially acknowledges this, we should treat it as a rumor.
source: Unwired View

Samsung i9001 Galaxy S Plus (Galaxy S 2011 Edition) will be launched in the UK too

It's been about three months since we first heard of the Samsung i9001, dubbed Galaxy S Plus or Galaxy S 2011 Edition, and since then it has been officially launched in Russia, and it's also on its way to the Netherlands in the very near future.

This, if you remember, is an updated version of the Galaxy S, and features a better processor, larger battery, and runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread from the start. The Galaxy S Plus has a 1.4 GHz processor (the original only has 1 GHz), and a 1650 mAh battery (as opposed to 1500 mAh).

Today, Fonehome has learned from Samsung that this device will also become available in the UK later this year. Unfortunately, a more exact timeline has not been given. Nor any information whatsoever about pricing. It stands to reason though that this smartphone would be Samsung's upper-midrange offering for 2011, being positioned slightly below the Galaxy S II in the manufacturer's portfolio, and should be priced accordingly.
source: Unwired View

Google Nexus 4G revealed?

When it comes to Android phones, most people look forward to the Nexus devices, treating it as the holy grail of phones. For a good reason of course - it is the flagship Android phone with the latest version of stock Android (not to mention it receives the updates first) and latest features (the Nexus S had NFC and a front facing camera). Well the folks over at BGR claim that they've got the exclusive details about the next generation Nexus smartphone.

No manufacturer has been mentioned yet, but BGR claims that it'll be packing an OMAP 4460 or 28nm Krait-based Snapdragon dual-core processor (1.2GHz or 1.5Ghz) instead of the previously rumored NVIDIA Kal-El (Tegra 3) processor. The phone will pack a 720p HD “monster-sized” screen (so we're assuming 4.5-5″) and it won't have any physical buttons like our current Android phones.

Other specs include: a 4G LTE radio, 1GB of RAM, 1080p HD video capture and playback, a 1-megapixel front facing camera, a 5-megapixel rear camera, (that is said to have a high performance sensor that works well in low-light conditions), Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and will be an ultrathin device. No carrier has been confirmed for the device, but speculations lead to AT&T, and the phone could possibly be a non-Nexus device but an Android LTE phone instead. The phone is expected to launch sometime around Thanksgiving, though no prices have been mentioned.

Before you start drooling all over yourself - remember to take this information with a pinch of salt, after all there's no concrete proof or evidence of any kind to what this phone may be. With that being said, what do you think of the device? Do you think it is worthy of having the “Nexus” name?
source: Ubergizmo

HTC Flip-Flops on Android Update for Desire Smartphone

Smartphone hardware manufacturer HTC is having trouble making up its mind.

On Tuesday, HTC quietly posted to its Facebook page that owners of its Desire smartphone would not receive the latest Android software update, “Gingerbread.” The company claimed a memory issue that conflicted with its customized user interface, Sense 3.0.

Less than 24 hours later, however, HTC made a complete 180-degree turnaround on its position in a pithy follow-up post: “Contrary to what we said earlier, we are going to bring Gingerbread to HTC Desire.”

HTC hasn't given a reason for flip-flopping on the matter, and the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Some say, however, that HTC's Sense software is the very thing holding the Desire back from an update.

“The hardware itself can certainly handle Gingerbread,” Steve Kondik, creator of popular Android modification software CyanogenMod, told Wired.com. “A standard build of Android fits just fine, but once HTC adds their stuff to it (Sense UI and everything that goes with it), there is no way it will fit.”

Google makes the code for its Android platform widely available to manufacturers after each version is finished (with some notable exceptions). It's what is called “stock Android,” because the code comes directly from Google, untouched. A number of devices — like HTC's Nexus One or the more recent LG G2X — ship with stock Android.

Many others, however, ship with customized versions of the Android platform. “Sense” is HTC's particular flavor of Android, and the modified user interface serves mostly to differentiate HTC's phones from the glut of others currently available on the market. HTC's initial statement suggested that the latest version of Sense was too large to load on the 512 MB of flash memory the Desire comes with.

With some effort, however, HTC may be able to fit a version of the Sense software on the Desire.

“They probably have to trim the fat,” software developer Koushik Dutta told Wired.com in an interview. “Provide the bloatware as optional downloads, compress the image resources further,” and other tweaks to the Sense software that result in a slimmer software footprint on the device.

It may not be realistic to expect continuous software updates to smartphones considering the industry timetables. Android's development cycle averages a new version release every six months. That's hard on manufacturers, which can take more than a year to go through the developmental process of creating a new piece of hardware. By the time the next version of Android launches, the company's brand new phone may already be out-of-date.

“Generally, consumers should count on paying for upgrades at the initial time of purchase,” Gartner mobile analyst Ken Dulaney told Wired.com in an e-mail. “Save your money and buy new devices every 2 years.”

That two-year window fits in line with Google's vision for carriers and manufacturers. In May, Google announced an agreement with the most prominent smartphone manufacturers and carriers, mandating that newly purchased Android devices you buy from participating partners and carriers will receive the most-current version of the Android software, for up to 18 months after the device's initial release.

Although the Desire first debuted before this agreement, it's not unreasonable to expect a software update on a phone less than a year old.

HTC's dilemma raises the question: How many smartphones aren't updated to the latest version of Android because of top-heavy customized interfaces?
source: Gadget Lab

T-Mobile Announces Samsung Exhibit 4G and Gravity Smart for June 22 Release

T-Mobile’s Twitter account just confirmed what earlier leaked documents already revealed: the Samsung Exhibit 4G and Samsung Gravity Smart will be available on June 22nd. Both phones round out a lineup of phone that just added the big-boy HTC Sensation 4G to its stables today. The Exhibit 4G is a device best classed as mid-range, while the Gravity Smart is what we might consider “entry level.” Though the release is only seven days away, pricing on either new handset has yet to be announced.
source: Android Phone

Motorola Pro will be available in the UK in July

The Motorola Pro was announced back in February during Mobile World Congress as Europe's version of what's being sold in the US by Verizon under the name Droid Pro. And since that announcement, we've heard next to nothing about this Android-powered smartphone with a rather interesting form factor.

Especially in the UK, for a while it seemed like the Motorola Pro was cancelled and would never make it to Great Britain. The silence surrounding the Pro was broken today by well known online UK retailer Clove. In a blog post, it explains that it expects to have the first shipment of Motorola Pro smartphones in stock sometime in mid-July. There isn't an exact release date yet, but we'll keep you posted.

Anyway, it looks like the Motorola Pro is finally nearing launch in the UK, and if you are interested in it, Clove will let you pre-order one for £420.
source: Unwired View

Motorola releases Android 2.2 update for Defy users in the UK

It has been a long time coming but the Motorola Defy owners in the UK can now finally get some taste of Froyo on their phone that others around the world have been enjoying for some time now. Motorola has released a software update v34.177.3 for the Defy, which will upgrade the phone from Android 2.1 to Android 2.2.

Along with the update you get the usual list of features in Froyo, which includes Adobe Flash Player 10.3 support, ability to install applications on the memory card and speed and performance enhancements. You also get other stuff such as smart dialling, improved keypad, task manager, updated gallery, profiles for the home screen and LinkedIn app built-in.

To download the the software update, click here and choose your location and device.

Source

The FCC Has Approved AT&T HTC ChaCha

The FCC has finally approved the HTC ChaCha. The phone will be released in the US market via AT&T in the near future. Powered by the Google Android 2.3.3 with HTC Sense, this Facebook phone features a 800MHz CPU, a full QWERTY keyboard with a dedicated Facebook button, a 2.6-inch touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera in the rear and a front-facing 0.3-mexapixel camera. [UnwiredView]

Lookout and Sprint launch Lookout Premium Safe Browsing to protect your Android phone from scams

More and more people are using their mobile phones to go online, and while hackers/scammers/phishers are taking advantage of this fact and targeting the relatively unprotected mobile surfing world. While all these malicious websites can be avoided with careful surfing, not everybody is educated or aware of such problems. Fortunately, all hope is not lost.

Lookout Mobile Security and Sprint have partnered together to launch a new product to protect Android phones from malicious websites, phishing scams and drive-by downloads. Called Lookout Premium, the app has a feature called Safe Browsing that is designed to protect users from the dangers of the internet. It works by automatically checking every URL that a user visits, and warns them of any phishing attempts or unsafe websites.

This means that users will be able to safely surf the web, send emails, texts, and bank from their phones without having to worry about being scammed. They can also click on links from Facebook, emails, text messages without having to worry. And since the app will be cloud-based - users can be sure that the database of URLs is constantly being updated without having to worry about updating the app.

Lookout Premium is available now for $29.99 a year or $2.99 a month. A trial version is also available, and for folks who don't need Safe Browsing but want additional protection on their Android devices, Lookout is available for free on the Android Market.
source: Ubergizmo

Samsung Dart released on T-Mobile

Last week, the Samsung Dart (aka the Galaxy Mini) was reported to be arriving on T-Mobile sometime mid-June and it looks like the rumors were on the dot. Today, T-Mobile has officially announced the release of the Samsung Dart. Designed for high school students who want a fun phone for their social networking needs (according to a previously released commercial), the Android device packs entry-level specs in a mini package that shouldn't break the bank.

Samsung Dart specs:

3.14-inch QVGA TFT capacitive touch screen display with virtual QWERTY keyboard
Swype
Android 2.2 operating system
3-megapixel camera with 3x digital zoom, shooting modes and a video recorder
GPS capabilities with turn-by-turn directions with Google Maps
Personal and corporate e-mail including support for Microsoft Exchange, AOL, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail and most other POP and IMAP e-mail services
Instant messaging support
Music player
Built in 3.5mm stereo headset jack and micro USB
Stereo Bluetooth/A2DP, voice dialing and speakerphone
512MB of internal memory and a pre-installed 2GB microSD card with support for up to 32GB of expandable memory
1200mAh lithium ion batter
Support for Wi-Fi (802.11 n)
Dual-band 3G UMTS/HSPA (Bands I & IV)
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE world phone (850x900x1800x1900 MHz)
Display: 3.14-inch diagonal, 240 x 320 pixels, 16M color
Dimensions: 4.09" x 2.39" x 0.48"; Weight: 3.8 ounces

The Samsung Dart is available now for the low cost of $0 with a 2-year contract on T-Mobile. Any takers?
source: Ubergizmo

Motorola Pro Will Be Launched In The UK

The Motorola Pro will be released in the UK sometime in mid-July 2011. This candybar smartphone has a 3.1-inch (320x480) capacitive touchscreen, a full physical QWERTY keyboard underneath that screen, a 1GHz TI processor, a 5MP autofocus camera with dual-LED flash and 480p video recording, an 8GB of internal storage space, a microSD card slot, HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 1420mAh battery. If you are living in the UK, you can pre-order the Motorola Pro via Clove for £420 ($678). [Clove]

HTC: “Select apps” will be removed to fit Android 2.3 on HTC Desire

We now have a touch more information from HTC regarding the will they (yes!) won't they (no!) situation concerning the “Gingerbread” Android 2.3 update for the old HTC Desire. It is still happening, at time of writing, with HTC saying its engineers will be removing a few apps from its version of the OS to help it fit on the phone.

Here's the latest from HTC:

To resolve Desire's memory issue and enable the upgrade to Gingerbread, we will cut select apps from the release. Look for status updates starting next week. We apologize for any confusion.

Wonder what's likely to get the chop? We've noticed HTC removing some pre-loaded apps from its 2011 phones anyway, dumping previously core HTC Sense features and making them optional downloadable extras through HTC Hub – so it shouldn't be much of an deal-breaker. You just might have to choose between having a clock or a Twitter client.
source: Eurodroid

HTC Desire Android 2.3 Gingerbread update might be gimped

Remember the hoo-ha surrounding the HTC Desire with its Android 2.3 Gingerbread update being pulled originally, only to be reinstated after much uproar from Desire owners online? Well, it seems as though the good times will not last long, since the latest developments point otherwise with HTC's Facebook page touting that they will leave out select applications from the HTC Desire so in the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update. The method behind this madness is the relatively limited amount of memory on the smartphone, which is why HTC has decided to cut corners.

Here's what HTC had to say about the whole situation on their Facebook page, “To resolve Desire's memory issue and enable the upgrade to Gingerbread, we will cut select apps from the release. Look for status updates starting next week. We apologize for any confusion.”

What kind of apps do you think that HTC will leave out, and will you be better off not upgrading to Android 2.3 Gingerbread by sticking to good old Froyo?
source: Ubergizmo

Bonkers dual-screen, split-keyboard LG Android phone spotted

You know what would make your phone's battery die even quicker? Two screens! That would appear to be the thinking behind this mystery LG Android QWERTY phone, which has a secondary, smaller, touchscreen built into its QWERTY keyboard.

Apparently used to launch apps, the second screen reveals itself when the phone's opened in QWERTY mode, positioned between a split keyboard. Actually, there's no point us explaining it in so much detail as there's a photograph of it:

Good luck with that one, T-Mobile. We look forward to seeing it stinking up the “sale” listings for the next three years. Link via Engadget.

Motorola Droid 2 Global to receive Gingerbread update

Your Motorola Droid 2 Global is going to get crunchier – why so, you ask? Well, it will be getting the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update soon enough, at least according to Verizon's website that has already listed down just what else your handset is going to be capable of once the update is installed. From a new Download Manager app which will allow you to manage the rest of your apps and downloads straight from the Internet as well as email attachments, you too can experience a new short cut when it comes to typing numbers from the virtual QWERTY keyboard.

The use of selected combinations will let you type numbers and symbols without having to switch to numeric mode. In addition, you can select a word by using press-hold. Press twice, and selected characters can be copied. Other changes include calendar events that are kept in local time even when you travel to make you not forget a single appointment. Expect to see this update roll out sometime this week, no? [Verizon Page]

HTC Sensation 4G review

The HTC Sensation 4G for T-Mobile is arguably one of the carrier's best smartphones ever. It's packed to the brim with features and impressive specs, it's lightning quick, incredibly well-built, and it runs HTC's latest and greatest Sense user interface. Can it compete with other Android devices like the T-Mobile G2x, though? How does a dual-core Snapdragon CPU compare to a dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 in real world usage? Is this the best smartphone to ever hit T-Mobile? Answers to those questions and more can be found after the break!

Hardware / Display

If you're going to use the word “superphone” to describe any smartphone, there's a good chance you're going to use it to describe the HTC Sensation 4G. Powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, the HTC Sensation 4G is one of the fastest phones on the market. It runs Android 2.3, features a sharp and vivid 4.3 inch qHD display, an 8-megapixel camera with two LED flashes and 1080p full HD video capture and a front-facing camera, and it is all packed within a unique unibody construction.

The front of the phone features slightly curved glass that is overlaid on the display, sort of like the Google Nexus S, though it is more subtle. Surrounding the display is an aluminum case split up by soft touch rubberized plastic on the top and bottom. On the left side, you will find a volume up and down rocker, and a micro-USB port. On the top, you ‘ll see a 3.5 mm headset jack, power on and off button, and switching to the back, you'll see the 8-megapixel camera with dual flashes, a speaker, and an extra mic for noise cancellation. There's also an LED built in under the earpiece speaker for notifications.

Interestingly enough, when you take the battery cover off the back of the phone, you are not taking the battery cover off so much as you are taking the entire case off the back of the device. The phone fits perfectly in my hand and even though it's a 4.3 inch display, the fact that it is a qHD display means that it isn't as wide as other 4.3 inch devices. Plus, the feel of the phone in your hand really exudes quality — it is solid, a little heavy, but it feels like you are holding and using a quality product.

The screen on the HTC Sensation 4G is one of the best I have seen on any Android device. It is crystal clear, bright, vivid, colors pop, and the concave glass on the device really kicks it up a notch because not only does it protect the display if you put it on a flat surface face down, but it contours very nicely to your face when you talk on the phone (it sort of hugs your cheek).

Software The HTC Sensation 4G runs HTC's brand new Sense 3.0 user interface on top of Android. It is incredibly familiar, yet HTC has made some unique and interesting changes. For starters, there is this carousel effect on the home screen that appears when you swipe quickly through your different home screens. When you look closely or slowly turn them, you see this great 3D effect. For instance, on the clock, which looks like an analog alarm clock, when you turn it slowly you can see parts of the wallpaper that site behind the clock's display. The same applies to the address folder, mailbox, and calendar icons.

HTC has also made some changes to the applications drawer. It scrolls by pages now when you swipe up and down, there is a frequents tab, a downloaded tab, you can choose how you want to sort your apps, and more. As far as notifications go, when you pull down the notification drawer, you will see the last five apps that were used, notifications, and you will also see a tab at the bottom called quick settings that will give you access to disable/enable Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Hotspot, cellular network, Bluetooth and GPS. You can also quickly jump into your settings from there, and view your device's used and free memory.

HTC has also updated the email app, which I really like. It is cleaner, it shows more information, you can quickly flag and un-flag messages, and you can also get more contextual items when you tap and hold on an individual message. The calendar app looks refreshed as well. The agenda view is very useful and clean, and I love how on day views, HTC includes the weather forecast on top of the calendar. While I am not a huge fan of HTC's skinned browser, the new updates - such as the ability to view/open windows and carousel/thumbnail view, the improved text selection, and other enhancements - make the browser faster and easier to use.

Unfortunately, HTC's phone app doesn't appear to have been updated. I haven't ever liked the way HTC's phone app looks or works, and I prefer something a little more straightforward. I don't like how the keypad overlays onto your list of recently called people and your address book.

Phone / Speakerphone

Using the phone for voice calling was a relatively good experience. When talking on the HTC Sensation 4G, calls sounded reasonably loud and clear, though the ear speaker lacked a little low-end and calls did sound a tiny bit tinny at times. The speakerphone isn't great, but it is certainly better than most phones I have used recently. In terms of reception, the Sensation performed incredibly well in this department and latched on to more T-Mobile bars than I have typically seen in the same locations from competitive offerings.

Music playback on the HTC Sensation, just like the earpiece speaker, lacked a lot of low-end and while decently loud, the high and mid-range frequencies overpowered any music I played on the device. It was to the point of distorting. Music sounded hollow, dry and dull.

Battery I have used the HTC Sensation on and off for a week and I can confidently say that the battery life is very good. It's powered by a 1,520 mAh battery and it performs better than most other current HTC smartphones. With heavy usage you can probably power through an entire day without needing a charge, and moderate users should be able to make it until the next morning before needing a recharge. I didn't do much talking on the phone, but after hours of heavy emailing, web browsing, downloading apps, and playing back streaming music from Google Music, the phone was only at about 50% battery life.

Conclusion The HTC Sensation 4G for T-Mobile is an incredible Android device. It features some of the latest specs coupled with HTC's latest and best Sense user interface, all in a solid unibody construction complete with a super sharp qHD display and more. It fits perfectly in your hand, and it really feels like the ultimate quality product. It's fast, it's quick, it's powerful, and it really shows off some of the best from HTC. Hands down, this is my absolute favorite Android device on T-Mobile.

There are a couple hiccups - the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor is fast, but it's not as fast as a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2, and I would have loved it if the phone was a bit lighter. All in all, however, this is the phone to beat on T-Mobile. It offers fast data speeds on T-Mobile's 4G network, and it really pushes the boundary of engineering in my opinion. The HTC Sensation 4G is available for $199.99 with a two-year agreement starting on June 15th.
source: Boy Genius Report