Samsung SPH-M930 picks up FCC nod, headed for Boost Mobile

The Samsung SPH-M930 has just received the overall nod of approval over from the good people at the FCC, which means it is safe for use in the US – and that also translates to an impending release, of course. Just what does the Samsung SPH-M930 bring to the table that other smartphones lack? Well, for starters, you have a QWERTY sliding keyboard which is perfect for those who have still to get used to the virtual keyboard, while a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 processor makes sure everything runs just fine and smoothly. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Looking over your shoulder at your colleagues who rely on Sony Ericsson Android smartphones, and realized that you'd best choose a phone with the latest software version in your next purchase, fret not – Boost Mobile's offering of the Samsung SPH-M930 will ship with Android 2.3 Gingebread right out of the box, playing nice with CDMA and EV-DO 850 and 1900 bands. No idea on pricing though. Image from Pocketnow.com.
source: Ubergizmo

Samsung Galaxy Ace Android 2.3 update now available on Three

UK network Three has just informed its users that a software update for the Samsung Galaxy Ace is available, with the network launching its version of the latest Android 2.3 upgrade for the nice little smartphone.

We presume this'll be another KIES job, so if you're an Ace owner and you bought the phone through the Three network…

…plug it in and have a look. GREAT JOYS may be waiting for you.
source: Eurodroid

Vodafone UK dumping the upcoming GSM HTC EVO 3D

Vodafone UK has announced it is not going to offer HTC EVO 3D and already removed it from its Coming Soon sections. The reason - delays!

HTC EVO 3D has been announced just a month ago and it is already available for pre-order on various online retailers. But for some reason Vodafone UK is giving up on the glasses-free EVO 3D because of "delays".

Whatever's causing the delay, it can't be that bad. As Eurodroid points out, the reason for the carrier's decision is, more probably, the not-so-good reception of the already available LG Optimus 3D more than anything else.

Anyway, if you are a Vodafone UK user who was saving on an EVO 3D, you might as well ditch the idea for now.
source: GSM Arena

Samsung Galaxy S II US Sign Up Page Goes Live

The Samsung Galaxy S II US sign up page that went semi-live last night is now ready to accept your information in exchange for the latest updates on the handset that has been selling like hot cakes in other regions of the world. Word from Samsung is that the phone is on schedule for an August release in the states, a timeframe corroborated by numerous rumors and recent leaks. No, this sign up page isn’t anywhere near as pleasing as a release date announcement, but it’s a sign of good things to come.
source: Android Phone

Motorola Ponders Watch-like Personal Fitness and Music Device

Motorola has been sending a little survey out to a select few consumers gauging response to a new (presumably Android-based) product. No, it's not a smartphone or even a tablet, it's a small watch-like device designed for personal fitness and music. What could potentially be branded MotoActive most closely resemble Sony Ericsson's LiveView or the iPod Nano, and would act as a standalone mashup of the two concepts with wireless syncing between your PC and Android devices and a “smart music player.” For now the device remains a concept that may never reach market, the results of this particular survey perhaps playing a role in the final decision. So how about out own informal survey. MotoActive personal fitness tracker/music player. Yay or nay?
source: Android Phone

LG Optimus Chat with Android launched in Canada by Telus and Koodo

Officially announced back in February and available in Europe since March, the LG Optimus Chat has now found two homes in Canada. According to Mobile Syrup, both Telus and Koodo Mobile are selling the smartphone as of now, although their websites don't reflect that just yet. Reportedly, the Optimus Chat is offered for free with a new 3-yr contract agreement, or for $200 outright.

For that kind of money you get Android 2.2 Froyo (upgradeable to 2.3 Gingerbread), a 2.8 inch QVGA touchscreen display, sliding QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, HSDPA, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, 3.2MP camera, 600MHz processor, and MicroSD card support.
source: Unwired View

Samsung Character QWERTY phone launched by US Cellular

US Cellular has introduced yet another new Samsung handset: the Samsung Character. Like the Samsung Messager Touch (released by the carrier back in May 2010), the Character is a touchscreen (2.8 inch QVGA) feature phone with a sliding QWERTY keyboard.

The new handset offers “three Main Menu screens”, voice recognition, Bluetooth, web browser, widget support, 1.3MP camera, and MicroSD card support.

The Samsung Character is available as of now at US Cellular, in two color versions: grey and blue. It costs $39.99 (after a $50 mail-in rebate) with a new 2-yr contract agreement.
source: Unwired View

Samsung Galaxy R officially announced, release imminent

It looks like Samsung released the Galaxy S II into the wild, then took a long look at it and considered what it could do to make it cheaper. Throw out the Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen and replace it with a Super Clear LCD panel, make it a tad smaller even, replace the 8 MP camera with a 5 MP unit, make the processor a dual-core 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra unit, and not Samsung's 1.2 GHz dual-core Exynos part, make the phone a tad thicker (by about 1 mm), and 19 grams heavier.

Deal? Done. Enter the Samsung Galaxy R (even the name is funny and playful in a way – it's close, but not quite an S, get it?). We first saw this device last month listed somewhere in Sweden as the Galaxy Z. Then it was supposedly headed to the UK as the R, before Samsung said that it hadn't officially confirmed the handset for the UK market. Well, it has now. Finally, a few days ago we even watched the first hands-on demo video of the Galaxy R, so we knew that this phone just had to be real.

And it is. The Samsung Galaxy R will be in stores in Europe before the end of this month (or maybe in early August, since this month literally ends on Sunday), and will subsequently become available in all of Asia.

The software is more or less identical to what you see on the Galaxy S II, including Samsung's own TouchWiz UI layer and various content Hubs. We'll let you know when you can buy a Galaxy R. And for how much, since unfortunately Samsung stayed mum on the pricing details for now.
source: Unwired View

Sony Ericsson MT11i is yet another upcoming Android smartphone

It looks like Sony Ericsson has another upcoming Android smartphone planned for this year aside from the already announced Xperia Ray and Xperia Active, and the oft-leaked Xperia Duo.

The Sony Ericsson MT11i has been discovered hidden deep in Sony Ericsson's website in the form of a UAProf (user agent profile) by IT168. As always with UAProfs, there isn't really that much information, other than proving that this device exists (or is planned). What we do know for sure is that its touchscreen will have a resolution of 854×480, which isn't really all that surprising, since that's the standard resolution that Sony Ericsson uses for its Android-powered smartphones.

The MT11i will not have a physical keyboard of any sort. That's obvious from the lack of a ‘K' in the name, but also because the UAProf lists ‘phone keypad' as the input method available in this phone. The processor will be a Cortex A8 affair, probably yet another single-core. So for now, the only dual-core Sony Ericsson smartphone that we've heard of remains the aptly named Xperia Duo.
source: Unwired View

White Samsung Galaxy S II is official, will be out in the UK on September 1

Over the past couple of days, we've heard increasing chatter about a white version of the Samsung Galaxy S II being on the way. First there was a listing at a UK retailer, then one in France yesterday. Thankfully, Samsung chose not to let this turn into a leakfest and decided to officially announce the white Galaxy S II.

The fact that it's white is the only difference between this and the original black Galaxy S II. However, unlike last year's Galaxy S or even the white Google Nexus S, this is all white. It's not just the back cover that has been painted a different color, it's the whole device, as you can see below.

The white Samsung Galaxy S II will become available in the UK on September 1 on all major operators and at major retailers (so a bit later than the first estimated time frame of mid-August). No word just yet on when it will make it to other countries and territories, but it's safe to bet it won't happen before the UK release.

As for pricing, Clove still asks £492 for it, VAT included. For that price, you get a SIM-free and unlocked smartphone.
source: Unwired View

HTC Vigor Leaked, 720p HD Resolution Phone?… Or Tablet?

We know HTC are upping the ante with hardware upgrades, that include single core 1.5 GHz processors, it seems like their next generation of smartphones will have this as a minimum spec. It looks like HTC are pushing a hardware setup that will support, Android, and Windows Phone, going for larger single core processors, that will deliver processing power to both platforms. We've heard about the HTC Ignite, and the HTC Prime, two new Windows Phones, that are for release later in the year, appearing on a Dutch phone dealers website, and really they look like a couple of first gen phones, coming as part of HTC's push to get Windows Phone into Europe. While HTC has won a 20% share in the US Mobile market, they are still playing catch up, there and everywhere else. Gone though are the days when I'm the only person on the commute in the mornings, poring over a HTC device.

So the HTC Vigor seems to be a bit of an anomaly, rumoured specifications suggest a 1.5GHz CPU and Adreno 220 GPU, quite likely the MSM8660 found under EVO 3D and the upcoming "Puccini" tablet. The device is also shown to be running on Android 2.3.4. Bench mark test results for the device, indicate that it has a 1280 x 720 pixel display, which seems uncanny, and fitting for a tablet device, rather than a phone.

It also seems to be coming to Verizon in the US by the indicated branding in the bench results. Is this an indication of a higher resolution than the 960 x 540 qHD display of the Sensation on a small screen, or a tablet in the making. Whatever way this goes a phone with this sort of resolution display will make the current iPhone look a bit shabby. Other than that, the trend towards a single core, higher powered CPU, with top end graphics support, may actually give HTC an edge in the price wars. Which ever way this pans out, the Vigor remains a conundrum for the moment.
source: HTC Source

Qriocity video service arrives on Xperia arc

Own a Sony Ericsson Xperia arc? Well, we are pleased to announce that you can now get your movie fix even when you are not in front of the TV or computer, and nay, you need not pre-load your iPod with movies beforehand. What we are looking at would be the upcoming launch of Qriocity's video service that will be made available on select Sony Ericsson Xperia handsets from August 1st onwards.

It is said that this will deliver all your favorite movies and TV shows without having to go through a steep learning curve. That's nice to hear, and you can opt to rent or purchase movies and TV shows from NBC, Universal International Television Distribution, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution in addition to local studios.

All Xperia smartphones (Xperia mini and Xperia mini pro at the moment) that have already been upgraded with this software can take advantage of the video service. Needless to say, as time passes, the mobile version of the video service will be made available to the Xperia arc, Xperia neo, Xperia PLAY, Xperia pro, and Xperia acro. Anyone given it a go yet, and how do you find it?
source: Ubergizmo

Windows Phone Mango handsets from Samsung, HTC and LG expected to arrive in September

While Microsoft hasn't committed to an exact launch date for Windows Phone Mango, we know that the first Mango devices should hit the market starting September, with the Fujitsu Toshiba IS12T possibly being the very first of them.

Now a report from Taiwan claims that Samsung, HTC and LG also plan to release WP Mango handsets in September. Apparently, HTC will have “a number of Mango phones” with displays measuring from 3.8 to 4.7 inches. Said phones should be powered by single-core 1.5GHz processors from Qualcomm – and that's all we know for now.

HTC is the company that launched the highest number of Windows Phone devices until now (five).

(Samsung Focus, which currently runs WP 7, but will be upgraded to Mango)
source: Unwired View

New Information Says Samsung QWERTY Slider Won't Be AT&T's Galaxy S II

Not so fast! Looks like that upcoming Samsung QWERTY slider headed for AT&T isn't the Galaxy S II, after all. BGR, who broke the story initially, has received a correction from one of their sources and is now reporting that the sexy slider is a different handset altogether. The confusion arose from the recycling of an old model number initially associated with the Galaxy S II. So AT&T subscribers will be getting the same slim, keyboard-free Galaxy S II headed to other carriers (though it may be slightly retooled), but now we must question where this QWERTY handset fits in. Will it still be partially based on the Galaxy S II spec sheet? Or will it be something a bit more mid-range? We wouldn't mind AT&T offering this slider as an additional alternate to the S II if the hardware is right.
source: Android Phone

White Samsung Galaxy S II Unveiled

Samsung UK has officially confirmed the availability of the white Samsung Galaxy S II. Consumers will be able to buy the newly painted phone from August 1, 2011 via major retailers. The white Samsung Galaxy S II has a similar specification to the black model. The handset features a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a 1GB RAM, a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, an 8MP camera with full HD video recording and playback, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 16GB internal memory and a microSD card. [Engadget]
source: TechFresh

Gingerbread officially released for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10

After the false reports of Gingerbread arriving on the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 a couple of days ago, it looks like rumors of the Friday release date have turned out to be true. Sony Ericsson has officially announced on its blog that the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for the Xperia X10 is finally here. The update won't be an OTA (over the air) update and has to be installed with a computer running SE's PC companion software.

Sony Ericsson has mentioned that the update will be rolling out to non-customized handsets first, and then to customized X10s next but even then, not all customized phones will be getting the update. To circumvent the issue, you'll need to un-brand your phone. Or you could just root the device and install a custom ROM by yourself... something that most users would've done by now if they really wanted Gingerbread. Anyway like they always say - better late than never, right?
source: Ubergizmo

LG Optimus 2X, SE Xperia Pro and Samsung Galaxy Q to be launched by Fido Canada

Three new Android smartphones will be released in Canada by Fido soon. The first one – LG Optimus 2X – is already available to Canadian customers thanks to Videotron and Wind.

Mobile Syrup has it that Fido may launch the Optimus 2X “within a few days.” The handset will come with Android 2.2 Froyo (upgradeable to 2.3 Gingerbread), a 4 inch WVGA display, Wi-Fi, GPS, 1GHz dual-core processor, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 8MP rear camera, and 1080p video recording. No word yet on the price Fido wants to ask for it.

Next we have the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro, which runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and features a sliding QWERTY keyboard, 3.7 inch FWVGA display, Mobile Bravia Engine, 8MP rear camera, and a 1GHz single-core processor. The third handset is also a QWERTY slider: the Samsung Galaxy Q (which will also be released by Rogers). The Galaxy Q features a 3.2 inch HVGA screen, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a 3.2MP camera.
source: Unwired View

4G Windows Phone 7 devices arriving on T-Mobile?

Folks working at T-Mobile retail outlets today have received a new shipment of stickers that are usually sent to outlets in preparation for the arrival of new devices. Well the batch that they've received today is a very curious lot. Nevermind the Android stickers, and the Windows Phone stickers - what's interesting is the Windows Phone 4G stickers that are part of the bunch.

Since no details of the phones have arrived with the stickers, we're still left in the dark about what it could all mean, but assuming that the stickers belong to an upcoming 4G Windows Phone 7 device wouldn't be too far off. It hasn't been officially announced that the next-gen WP7 phones will have 4G connectivity, but seeing how a large number of new Android devices have it, it would make sense for Microsoft to want their devices to take advantage of faster data speeds as well.

If that turns out to be the case, sorry early adopters! It looks like the next batch of WP7 devices are going to be even sweeter than we anticipated. Mango and 4G, what else could we ask for? Dual-core processors and 3D displays? Stay tuned and we'll keep you posted.
source: Ubergizmo

Android 2.3.3 Update Available for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 in Italy

The Android 2.3.3 update said to be headed to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play this week is turning up just as expected, making its first appearance in Italy and ready for download and installation via SE’s companion software. Aside from the standard Gingerbread upgrades the phone will also receive deeper Facebook integration, WiFi hotspot an USB tethering capabilities, a new photo widget, and a sortable applications tray. We expect the update to begin appearing in other regions shortly, but if you happen to be located in Italy you can head over to Sony Ericsson’s site and download it now.
source: Android Phone

AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II spotted?

Could what you see above actually be the Samsung Galaxy S II from AT&T, just when you thought that Verizon Wireless would beat AT&T to the smartphone? Well, the model showcased has a QWERTY keyboard that slides out nicely, but we have no knowledge on whether this will be the Galaxy S II over at AT&T, or will it be known as the AT&T Galaxy Attain? The Bard did say, a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, so the same applies to smartphones – it doesn't really matter what it is called, but as long as it packs quite a punch underneath the hood, we're game.

Sporting a model number of SGH-I927, it will have the latest version of Android Gingerbread running – 2.3.4. With a four-row slide-out QWERTY keyboard, churning out text messages and emails in a flurry is going to be an easy task, especially when you have yet to get used to the virtual keyboard even until today.

Other hardware specifications do seem to remain there such as an 8-megapixel camera, a dual core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB RAM, a 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus display and perhaps even a front-facing camera. Some have even called it the Galaxy R – but we just can't wait for it to be released and get our grubby hands around it.
source: Ubergizmo

AT&T will push Gingerbread to all smartphones released this year, as well as the Samsung Captivate

AT&T has decided to make its customers happy. At least its customers that have purchased an Android-powered device from the carrier this year, and those who own a Samsung Captivate (AT&T's version of last year's Samsung Galaxy S). How so?

Well, AT&T has announced that its entire lineup of post-paid Android smartphones released this year will be getting updated to Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which at the moment is the latest version of Google's mobile operating system. The smartphones in question are the HTC Inspire 4G, LG Phoenix, Motorola Atrix 4G, Pantech Crossover, and Samsung Infuse 4G. The Samsung Captivate will also receive an update to Gingerbread even if it was launched last year.

Where possible, the updates will come over-the-air, with the phone notifying you that an updated version of the OS is available. This might however not be possible for all devices, so in some cases you may have to use a computer to perform the update.
source: Unwired View

Kyocera DuraCore and Kyocera DuraMax Direct Connect rugged handsets on Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel's first Direct Connect handsets which will enable the use of PTT (Push To Talk) over a CDMA network come in the form of the Kyocera DuraCore and Kyocera DuraMax, where both of them are rugged in their very own way. Push To Talk comes in handy during emergencies, especially when there is no power around and everyone on a normal cell phone cannot make a call, you can always chat freely on your PTT handset.

These two phones will roll out to the masses sometime in Q4 later this year, with a Motorola model following closely behind. Both the Kyocera DuraCore and Kyocera DuraMax will come with color displays, where a 2″ internal screen and an external screen shows off relevant information for your attention, while Bluetooth connectivity lets you live out the wireless lifestyle with compatible peripherals. Too bad a 2.5mm audio jack is used, as we would have favored the far more popular 3.5mm version.

The Kyocera DuraMax also sports a microSD memory card slot with a 3.2-megapixel camera, not to mention a waterproof body that can go three feet underwater for up to half an hour. No idea on pricing as at press time though.
source: Ubergizmo

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Android 2.3 Gingerbread update may be out this week

The Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 may be out as early as sometime this week. The Xperia X10 launched running Android 1.6 in what was a world filled wit 2.x devices even back then. Sony Ericsson tried to subsequently forget all about the X10, but a couple of consumer backlashes later, the company changed its mind and said it would even update the X10 to Gingerbread.

When? This summer. That was the first word. Then that got changed into ‘this August'. And now it looks like Sony Ericsson may be set to deliver the update a bit early. An employee responded to a question on Facebook by stating the following:

I got this information yesterday.

“The launch of the 2.3 software for X10 is getting closer, and the planned release date is approx. w30. The date could still be changed, since the launch is depending on operators approval. The software will be rolled out continuously, just like the earlier 2.1 release. The exact launch date is depending on market and operators approval, so it will unfortunately not be possible to give precise information on launch dates for each market/operator. You will get more information once the roll out has started.”

…so it could be available any day. Keep in touch with your local teams for more specific information since I probably won't get any more market specific info than this.

Since we're already two days into the 30th week of this year, it's safe to take this guy's word and assume that the rollout will indeed start sometime this week. Of course, you needn't panic if your Xperia X10 won't be running Gingerbread by Sunday.

Like all rollouts, this will be staggered too, so it may take a while for it to reach all devices. Also, keep in mind that unlocked devices are the ones receiving the update now. Carrier-specific variants, as stated above, depend on approval from the network operators and as such usually come later.
source: Unwired View

MTS 950 Android Smartphone

Russian-based mobile operator MTS has unleashed their newest Android smartphone in Russia called the MTS 950. The handset sports a 2.8-inch 240 x 320 touchscreen display, a 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7225 processor, a 256MB RAM, a 512MB of flash storage, a microSD card slot, a 2.0-megapixel camera, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth and runs on Android 2.2.1 Froyo OS. The MTS 950 sells for 4,990 Rubles (about $181) with the MTS's tariff plan or 5,490 Rubles (about $199) without the MTS's tariff plan. [MTS]
source: TechFresh

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Android 2.3 Gingerbread update now available

A few hours ago, we let you know that the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 was due to become available during this week.

And that it did. The update is now live. Sony Ericsson has all the details up at its website which specializes in updates (just go over there and select the Xperia X10 as your device).

The update brings many new features aside from the Gingerbread bits. Such things include Facebook inside Xperia (prevalent integration throughout the UI), app tray sorting (you can now arrange apps in the order you want them to be), Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, the music player now has an equalizer, USB tethering is now possible, and there's a new photo widget which gives you one click access to the photo gallery app.

As for installation instructions, Sony Ericsson is being a bit contradictory. The company mentions that your phone will pop up a notification when the update has reached it. That obviously seems to imply that the update will come over the air – so you just need to accept it to proceed, no computer needed nearby. However, in the next paragraph Sony Ericsson says that the update can only be installed using a computer and Sony Ericsson's PC Companion software. Now this leaves us wondering: which one is it? Is this an OTA update, or one that requires the use of a computer? It may just be both, yet it would be the first time we've heard of something like this. Judging from Sony Ericsson's instructions, it looks like either the phone will just serve the notification without actually downloading anything itself, or it will download, but to install the update you need to hook it up to a computer.

Anyway, the PC Companion software can also be found at the Sony Ericsson update page linked above. As always, the update may not be available for your particular device yet. It's probably safe to assume that unlocked and unbranded Xperia X10s will get it first. Keep in mind that the rollout may not have reached your country yet even if you have an unlocked phone.

Some interesting caveats apply to the updating procedure. First of all, updating will wipe everything on your device's internal memory. So clearly you'll need to backup your data. However, ironically, Sony Ericsson's own Backup and Restore app will be overwritten during the update and can not be used to restore data. So you'll have to use a third-party solution (check the Android Market).

Also, any DRM content will be overwritten, and the Creatouch, Neoreader, and Quadrapop apps will be removed. Mediascape will no longer be supported, along with homescreen operator customization and app tray operator customization. Finally, Moxier Exchange will be replaced with Gingerbread's native Exchange support.

It's definitely good to see more and more Android smartphone manufacturers issue software updates for their devices even if a year or so has passed since their release. It's encouraging to see this from Sony Ericsson, which last year was one of the worst offenders in terms of software support. How quickly things change in the mobile world.
source: Unwired View

Samsung ships over 5 million Galaxy S II units

The popular Galaxy S II smartphone has reached yet another landmark. Samsung has shipped over 5 million Galaxy S II smartphones by now and although the number of shipped devices is not quite the same as the number of devices actually sold, in case of the Galaxy S II we are inclined to believe the difference won’t be much due to its popularity.

According to Samsung, the 5 million milestone was crossed in a mere 85 days from the launch of the phone and it is now poised to cross 10 million soon. Most of the sales come from South Korea, where Samsung has managed to get 56% of the market share and it also remains quite popular in the European countries. Now if the phone was launched in the US on time these numbers would have been even higher.
source: GSM Arena

Android 2.3 Gingerbread rolls out on Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10

Finally! Not so long ago Sony Ericsson has announced it will bring Gingerbread to its Android pioneer – the XPERIA X10. And it is doing it today, right at this moment, so prepare to update.

Sony Ericsson has skipped the Froyo generation and announced back in March it is working to bring Gingerbread on its firstborn droid – the XPERIA X10.

Today the 2.3.3 Gingerbread update for XPERIA X10 has been released for all carrier-independent devices. Just go to your local Sony Ericsson website and check if the update has been made available. We can confirm it is already rolling out in the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Germany, so we guess until the end of the day all the unlocked XPERIA X10 worldwide will get a taste of Gingerbread.
source: GSM Arena

Samsung Galaxy S II slide for ATT leaks plus a candybar Galaxy S II

It appears two new Galaxy S II phones are heading to AT&T – a QWERTY slider and an oddly-shaped candybar. Both droids will pack exactly the same specs as the original I9100 Galaxy S and run on Android Gingerbread.

It was just yesterday we saw an official picture of unfamiliar AT&T-bounded Samsung Galaxy S II slider and today we have a live photos to confirm it.

The leaked photos reveal the slider’s model name is SGH-I927 and it is running on Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. The untypical for AT&T four-key design on both the front panel and the QWERTY keyboard confirms that today’s SGH-I927 is indeed the same as the yesterday’s leaked official photo.

But that’s not all. The situation gets even more curious with another leaked picture that shows a Galaxy S II phone but without the keyboard. And it should be joining the AT&T’s gang too.

So, the AT&T’s portfolio is bound to expand really soon with at least two Galaxy S II phones – a QWERTY slider and a standard candybar – featuring the same specs as the pioneer I9100 Galaxy S II but with a more rounded design. We’ll just have to wait a bit for the official announcements.
source: GSM Arena

Samsung Galaxy S II: 5 million units sold

After announcing that it sold 3 million Galaxy S II phones earlier this month, Samsung has just announced that it has now hit the 5 million mark. The phone is now on its way to hitting 10 million, and it looks like it might be doing it earlier than its predecessor, the Galaxy S. The Galaxy S II took 85 days to reach the halfway mark, while the Galaxy S took 125 days. With over 56% of Korea's phone market belonging to the S II, it's a phone that's been selling very well.

Folks on this side of the world are still waiting for the first Galaxy S II devices to reach our shores, but all the recent Samsung Galaxy S II leaks tell us that the wait might soon be over. With rumors of the next iPhone arriving later this year, Samsung had best release the phone soon in order to take advantage of the market right now. How many of you will be getting a Galaxy S II phone this year?
source: Ubergizmo

Fujitsu IS12T: First WP7 Mango Phone

We already knew that KKDI was going to get a “Mango” device, but it seems that the IS12T will be the first Windows Phone 7.5 (aka Mango) device to ship to consumers. “Hip” Japanese carrier KDDI, which is well known for its eccentric phone designs, will commercialize a series of colorful handsets from Fujitsu. This was just announced (officially) in Japan.

The IS12T (what an awful name) is not only smart, but it is also dust and water resistant. At 113g, it is a very light phone which is comparable in weigh with the Samsung Galaxy S2, one of the lightest Android phone. On the back, the IS12T has a 13.2 Megapixel camera, and while we will have to check the actual image quality, we wonder if the manufacturer knows that the Megapixel war is over and that “low-light” is the new frontier.During my last trip to Japan in October 2010, I have seen how the iPhone had spread, and how Android was starting to gain traction. Now, we will see if Windows Phone 7 can wow one of the biggest phone markets in the world. Let's wait and see.

Specifications 3.7″ Display (800×480)

Processor Qualcomm MSM8655

Colors: Citrus, Magenta, Black

DLNA media sharing support

Internet Explorer 9 rendering engine (GPU Accelerated)

13.2 Megapixel camera, 1-LED Flash

NFC 59x118x10.6mm, 113g
source: Ubergizmo

STATS: Smartphone sales comparisons for all major manufacturers

Analyst IMS Research has just sent out some data regarding the global smartphone market, estimating that a total of 420 million smartphones will be sold around the world during 2011. It doesn't really tell us anything else of note, but there is a rather excellent graph pitching all the manufacturers against each other.

Here's how the WAR ROOM has been playing out between Q1 of 2010 and Q1 of 2011.

Interesting to see the lows from which some of the manufacturers have started, like, Sony Ericsson had only 3% of the market at the start of 2010 and LG barely even existed statistically speaking back then.
source: Eurodroid

Sprint Samsung Google Nexus S 4G now free with contract

We bring you great deals on smartphones almost every single day now, but this one is special. To those of you who like the operating system that your phone runs to be always the latest one. If you're an Android fan, the only way to ensure that is to buy one of Google's Nexus devices. The Nexus One is getting (more than) a bit old, so for now the only plausible option you're left with is the Samsung-made Google Nexus S.

And while the Nexus S was never the most expensive device around, we haven't ever seen it this cheap either. Caveats first. This is Sprint's Nexus S 4G we're talking about. So naturally you have to be willing to become a Sprint customer. Also, as always, a new two-year contract signing is required.

If you're fine with the above, then perhaps you should pay a quick visit to either Best Buy or Amazon and pick up a Nexus S 4G. That's since Best Buy now offers it for free, while Amazon charges a funny $0.01 for it.

For those of you who'd like to get an Android-powered smartphone but don't know which one, get this. It may not have all the hardware bells and whistles but it's still plenty capable. And you won't need to worry about OS updates.
source: Unwired View

Vodafone UK ditches the HTC Evo 3D

About one full month ago, we first spotted the HTC Evo 3D hanging out on Vodafone UK's Coming Soon page. And naturally we thought that the operator wanted to sell it to its customers when it would become available. That may have been the case then, but in the meantime Big Red has changed its mind.

Vodafone will no longer be stocking the HTC Evo 3D. Eurodroid has gotten hold of a brief statement from Vodafone on the matter, and here it is for your reading pleasure:

“There's been speculation recently regarding availability of HTC EVO 3D.

We can confirm that due to delays in the launch of the HTC EVO 3D, we no longer intend to include the device in our smartphone range. We'll be contacting any customers who registered their interest shortly.

We realise this might come as a disappointment, but we've got some really exciting handsets in the pipeline. Keep an eye on our coming soon section for all the latest information about the products coming to Vodafone.”

The HTC Evo 3D has been delayed quite a lot, that's for sure. In fact, I'm starting to wonder whether that was the plan all along. HTC may have hurried the announcement of the GSM version of the device without it actually being ready. That way, people's perception wouldn't be (for many months) that the LG Optimus 3D was the only 3D-capable smartphone around. Even if it technically still is and will be for the foreseeable future.

Regardless of HTC's strategy or lack thereof, the 3D gimmickry doesn't seem to be as successful as manufacturers hoped it would be, at least not on phones. We'll have to wait and see how this changes (or doesn't) over time. Until then, if you're a Vodafone customer and wanted to get an Evo 3D, this has been bad news for you.
source: Unwired View

Sony Ericsson: Despite Earlier Reports, Xperia X10 Gingerbread Update Not Quite Ready

Sony Ericsson has issued a statement via their blog that is sure to disappoint at Xperia X10 owners out there. The Android 2.3 update that is supposedly rolling out now is apparently not rolling out at all. The initial announcement was made prematurely, according to a blog post by head of product PR Mattias Holm. Holm states that Sony Ericsson needs “some more days before [they] can push the button” and send out the software update. I suppose this is where we say we knew it was too good to be true, at least for the moment.
source: Android Phone

White Samsung Galaxy S II Headed to Clove UK

If you still don’t number yourself among the 5 million who have already bought up the Samsung Galaxy S II, a new color option is headed your way. Fancy the color white? Clove UK will be picking up the 16GB Galaxy S II in the paler shade starting August 15th. Aside from the change in hues the handset remains the same dual-core beast currently taking the Android world by storm. We’d guess the white version may show up on a few other carriers around the globe in due time, but if you’re in the UK and want want to paint it white you can reserve your very own today.
source: Android Phone

Mystery Samsung Android device packs a WXGA screen

Waiting for an Android device from Samsung that features a high-res screen? You might be in for a treat. The folks over at T-Store, a Korean app market lists an unannounced Samsung device with the model number SHV-E120S in its Developer Center. You might ask, what's so great about this unknown, mysterious device?

Well, the phone/tablet packs a WXGA resolution display which in case you didn't know, is 1280 x 768 pixels. Now there's no telling if this is a phone or tablet yet, but since it is running Gingerbread, and Samsung has a Korea-only device that carries a similar model number (SHV-E110S), we're placing our bets on the former. And if it is a phone, there's a possibility that we'll be seeing a higher than Retina Display pixel density on the device.

The SHV-E120S will also feature a MSM8250 Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, which is unfortunately not a dual-core. However the prospect of having a high-res display on an Android phone is already exciting. Hopefully it won't be too long before we find out what the phone is.
source: Ubergizmo

T-Mobile G2 Android 2.3 Gingerbread update OTA rollout starts today

After missing its initial Q2 deadline, and after we saw a flyer for it back in May (which gave us false hope that its rollout would be imminent), the Android 2.3 Gingerbread for the T-Mobile G2 will finally start rolling out today. Almost eight months after Gingerbread was first unveiled, owners of the T-Mobile G2 will be able to take advantage of Google's newest mobile operating system.

The update will come over-the-air (OTA), meaning that you'll receive a notification on your phone that the update is available. Then you'll be able to choose to download and install it. The rollout of the update is staggered, so it may take a few weeks for it to reach your particular device. Manually checking for updates can be attempted but will not help force the update procedure, at least not until September 1. If by that date you still haven't got the update, then you'll be able to get it manually (or ask T-Mobile to push it to you).

Alternatively, if the update hasn't arrived by then, you could go to a T-Mobile store starting on August 5 and have the update done there. However, if you choose this route, you'll lose all your data (so backup first!) and will have to reinstall all previously installed apps.

Aside from the Gingerbread bits, the update for the G2 brings a bunch of new stuff. Google Books has been added, Wi-Fi calling has been improved, as have been notifications for new SMS and email, and sending an MMS from the Gallery app should work better now.

Slowly, but surely, more and more devices are getting updated to Android 2.3 Gingerbread. And that's good news for Android smartphone owners everywhere. At least it is until Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich gets released towards the end of the year. After that, the waiting game shall be resumed, if you own an Android device that doesn't have the word Nexus in its name.
source: Unwired View

Samsung slider for Boost Mobile spotted in the wild

While most manufacturers these days are shying away from creating handsets with physical keyboards, especially of the slide-out variation, there are a number of companies that aim to capture this shrinking market. Leaked press shots of a new Samsung phone show that the company still has vested interest making phones with slide-out QWERTY keyboards.

Being the first slider device for Boost Mobile, Samsung's SPH-M930 (follow up to the Samsung Transform SPH-M920) will run on Android 2.3 gingerbread, a 1GHz MSM8655 Qualcomm SoC, a HVGA-resolution display, and a low-end rear camera (possibly 2-megapixels). No word on when it'll go on sale at Boost Mobile, but since it hasn't paid a visit to the FCC, it's probably a couple of months away. A pretty decent looking device that should please Boost Mobile customers looking for a slide-out QWERTY Android phone. Any takers?
source: Ubergizmo

Has Microsoft Ditched GeoTrust for Windows Phone Developer Verification?

I'm a bit befuddled by a post that I read today, that asserted as part of the recent App Hub update, bringing many new features for Windows Phone Developers, that the registration/verification process had been relaxed for individuals and students. While this may be an interpretation issue, as with the app hub refresh, Microsoft have tried to make more transparent the registration process, adding what would be more detail in their registration overview. Taken out of context though, it could be seen as us lowly people may not have to jump through so many hoops to get registered.

WMPU is reporting just that, quoting the registration overview,

AppHub - GeoTrust verification for individuals and students cancelled

Microsoft has canceled the GeoTrust verification for individuals and students with the last AppHub update:

Individual and Student Identity Validation individuals will be verified using the information provided and their credit card information

When I use the link provided from the post, what I see says this

Once registration is complete, individuals will be verified using the information provided and their credit card information. These two must match to successfully activate the App Hub account. Students will be verified using the information provided and their DreamSpark membership.

It's very confusing, and the fact that I can't find more search results, would what would be a big step for Windows Phone and the marketplace, seems a bit screwy. I'm already registered, and I had to go through a lot of to and fro with GeoTrust, and eventually took it to the App Hub forums, and Microsoft stepped in for me and got it done. What I noticed, is that a major change like this has not been officially announced, considering the amount of consternation the GeoTrust verification process has generated. The link WMPowerUser supplied is not region specific, and if I follow it I see a very different text from what they are quoting.

The full text I see is

Identity validation is an annual process to confirm a developer's identity for the Windows Phone Marketplace. Identity validation helps to protect you as the developer from unauthorized developers who may submit applications to the Windows Phone Marketplace by using your name and information. It also helps to assure customers that applications in the Windows Phone Marketplace are authentic and from a known source. Microsoft works with GeoTrust to provide the identity validation services. Timely responses to GeoTrust's requests for information will help to accelerate the identity validation process.

Identity validation needs to be complete before you can unlock your phone for development and submit apps to the Marketplace.

Once registration is complete, individuals will be verified using the information provided and their credit card information. These two must match to successfully activate the App Hub account. Students will be verified using the information provided and their DreamSpark membership.

The App Hub Dashboard will display the status of your validation process.

Once registration is complete, GeoTrust will contact the Corporate Approver to validate the information provided during registration. The Corporate Approver will first be sent an email to approve the registration request before validation can proceed. Once the request has been approved, GeoTrust will validate the information provided and may contact the Corporate Approver for additional documentation, should that be required to complete validation.

GeoTrust maintains a detailed knowledge base of documentation that may be required for company identity validation.

The App Hub Dashboard will display the status of your validation process.

It clearly states that GeoTrust needs to get a pile of info from me, and if that is sufficient, I will be verified, and given access to developer privileges, like unlocking phones and uploading Apps for validation and acceptance to the Marketplace. I can't be sure if this is a regional difference, or another instance of people picking up, and running with a rumour. The lack of further verification of this claim, seems to support the latter, and although I have reached out to a few "Softies" who should be in the know, I haven't received a reply yet. If the post is correct, and the certification process has been relaxed, it opens the platform up to all sorts of malicious threats, like we have seen in Android Devices. At this point, I'm only waxing lyrical about this, with a fair dose of scepticism, if anybody though is getting the same text as described above, from me or the linked post, let me know!
source: HTC Source

HTC Salsa Shipping with Weibo, Not Facebook, in China!

HTC to date has two Android devices, that are known as Facebook phones, the Cha Cha and the Salsa. Whilst the rest of the worlds social networking seems to revolve around Facebook and Twitter, in China the big player is Sina Weibo.com. While this may seem trivial, this deviation from the norm by HTC makes a lot of sense. Weibo which is probably more of a Hybrid of Facebook and Twitter, has had a foothold on the internet in the region due to bans on Facebook and Twitter that have only been recently allowed into the region. Obviously, HTC being based in the region, obviously has it's finger on the pulse of what it's customers want. The Salsa will also be rebranded the "Weike"

Pricing will run around 3,380 Yuan ($525) and will come with similar features of that of the HTC Salsa such as HVGA touchscreen display, 5MP camera with autofocus, 800MHz processor and Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and a dedicated social networking button

Whether HTC and Facebook had to come to some sort of agreement for this change to happen, or if it will affect Facebook uptake in the region is yet to be seen. Whatever the answers to those questions, you can see HTC playing it smart here, and hitting the market with what counts, a strategy to add local colour to devices in Asia. I wonder if we'll see any fallout from this change?

Via MobileTopSoft

Nokia N9 rumored to launch August 19

No release date for Nokia's upcoming MeeGo phone, the Nokia N9, has been officially announced, but thanks to the listing on a retailer's website – the phone might be released on August 19th. The website (after translation) says: Incoming telephone: August 19, 2011. And at the bottom of the page it gives users a chance to pre-order the item at a special price of 99,990 KZT - which is about $686 (though converted prices usually aren't the best representation of a phone's final price).

Well, if the August 19th dates is to be believed, it looks like MeeGo fans won't have to wait too long to get their hands on the N9. The wait should be bearable for most people. Hopefully Nokia will announce more as we get closer to the N9′s launch date. Who's planning to pick up one when it is released? You can check out the pre-order website.
source: Ubergizmo

Fujitsu F-07C Windows 7 Phone Released In Japan

Fujitsu has decided to launch the F-07C Windows 7 phone in Japan via NTT DOCOMO on July 23, 2011. The smartphone provides a 1.2GHz Intel Atom CPU, a 4-inch (1024 x 600) capacitive display, a 1GB RAM, a 32GB SSD, a sliding QWERTY keyboard, a 5MP rear camera, a VGA front-facing camera, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G, HSPA and GPS. Additionally, the Fujitsu F-07C is also known as the world's smallest PC that fits into the palm of the user's hand.
source: TechFresh

AT&T to get its own Droid Bionic?

Folks holding out for the Motorola Droid Bionic will be glad to know that they might not have to wait for it to arrive on Verizon's network. According to a recent discovery by the folks at Into Mobile, AT&T might be getting its own version of the Motorola Droid Bionic. They've got their hands on a screenshot showing a list of different versions of Motorola's UI: MotoBlur.

After probing deeper into the version numbers and trying to figure out which version of MotoBlur was for which device, it turns out that the MB865 is for the Motorola Atrix 4G, and MB860 somehow turns up results of the Motorola Droid Bionic. Since Verizon labels its Motorola phones differently (they use the code XT instead) it's definitely not a mix up between the AT&T and Verizon Droid Bionic.

However, Motorola has yet to officially announce the device for AT&T, so there's a possibility of the Droid Bionic entry in the data base being a mistake. But according to the latest tweet from MDB228 (the Twitter account supposedly belonging to the Motorola Droid Bionic): “Landing sites being acquired. Launch approaching quickly.” suggests the possibility of more than just one carrier for the phone. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Do you think the AT&T Droid Bionic will support the carrier's 4G LTE network when it launches?
source: Ubergizmo

HTC Salsa ditches Facebook button for Weibo in China

HTC certainly knows well enough not to bite the hand that feeds them, and the move to replace the Facebook button with that of Weibo, a micro-blogging Web service in China, on the HTC Salsa is a logical one – after all, Facebook is banned in that part of the world, never mind that Mark Zuckerberg has been taking time to learn the Chinese language and perhaps, hoping to crack the market eventually. Said Facebook button has been replaced by Sina Weibo, where it has been renamed to 'Weike' ( 微客 ). According to HTC, the HTC Weike was specially designed just for the Chinese market, where it will cost an equivalent of $524 after conversion, albeit being an unlocked model, of course.

Everything else about the hardware specifications seem to be the same as that of the HTC Salsa apart from the replaced Facebook button, of course. I wonder how many people living there will pick up this smartphone to get their social networking kicks on-the-go.

Pressing the dedicated Sina Weibo button will allow the user to go straight to the Weibo post writing interface, making it a snap to update the rest of the world with your activities with but a few clicks and keystrokes.
source: Ubergizmo

HTC Wildfire S announced for T-Mobile, will launch August 3rd for $80.

For those on T-Mobile looking for an Android phone on a budget, look no further than the HTC Wildfire S, launching August 3rd for $79.99 after $50 mail-in rebate with a 2-year contract. Featuring a 3.2-inch, 320×480 display, HSDPA 3G technology, 512MB RAM and 512MB internal memory, a 5MP camera with flash and autofocus, and a 600mhz processor, this won't be the best phone out there, but it will be among the cheapest phones available. The HTC Wildfire S will be running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), featuring HTC Sense and the Swype virtual keyboard, which is a pretty uncommon feature in the under-$100 price range. The phone will come in both a white and black finish, with the white being exclusive to T-Mobile stores while black will be available from Walmart and Sam's Club, as well as T-Mobile's website.
source: HTC Source

The ‘unconfirmed' Samsung Galaxy R gets demoed on video

Despite Samsung saying that it's ‘unconfirmed' at the moment (at least for release in the UK), the Samsung Galaxy R now stars in its very own first demo video. The Samsung Galaxy R is a device that we've first seen last week. It was supposedly the UK's version of the Samsung Galaxy Z that's already listed in Sweden. That was before Samsung's UK arm said that it wasn't confirmed yet. So it remains to be seen whether the Samsung Galaxy R will ever launch over there, or whether the same device will launch just not being called Galaxy R (in which case Galaxy Z is a strong contender, since we've already seen it use that name elsewhere). Or perhaps Samsung simply doesn't want to sell its lower-end Galaxy S II variant in the UK for some reason.

Only time will tell. However, before it does, we can of course watch the following quick (and silent) demo video, courtesy of SammyHub.

As you can see, the handset comes with a demo video of itself preloaded. All pretty meta, but a decent way to let new owners know about its main features at a glance. We think the Galaxy R/Z, if priced well below the Galaxy S II, could be one phone to sell very well. After all, that was probably the only goal that Samsung envisioned for this model when it created it.
source: Unwired View

Samsung Galaxy Gio arrives at Bell on August 4

A couple of weeks ago we first told you that the Samsung Galaxy Gio was headed to Bell in Canada. Back then the only thing we knew about when that will happen was that it would be sometime in August. Thankfully, today we have a more specific date to talk about.

The image you see below represents a screengrab of a Bell system which was leaked to MobileSyrup. As you can undoubtedly make out, the Samsung Galaxy Gio will become available at Bell on August 4, according to it.

We have no reason to doubt this image's authenticity, and given that August 4 is so close, we don't expect there to be any (big) delays. So it looks like you'll be able to go to your local Bell store and purchase a Galaxy Gio starting next Thursday.
source: Unwired View

Droid Incredible 2 Receiving Minor Update

A minor update is being pushed to the HTC Droid Incredible 2 on Verizon. Owners of the handset can check for the update by navigating through their Settings menu to the Software update item. The results of the update include fixes for server connection issues when syncing contacts and email, but will likely go unnoticed. Unnoticed compared to the recent Gingerbread update, anyway.
source: Android Phone

HTC Bliss image leaks, may just depict a women-focused Android smartphone

Remember the HTC Bliss? It was supposed to be HTC's first Android-powered smartphone focused at women. In the meantime, we've also seen the Glamor, which may just be a lower-end offering in what is shaping up to be a range of HTC smartphones for women. If the Glamor looks like it's more for girls, the Bliss is the grown-up in the series, at least for now.

We first heard about the HTC Bliss in May, but back then, while we did get many details about the device, we didn't actually see it, as there were no pictures leaked.

That all changes today, since the guys at PocketNow got their hands on an image/render of the HTC Bliss resting nicely in a cradle of sorts (which may be the previously rumored wireless charger).

No additional information comes with the above image, however the fact that it has been leaked sort of confirms the existence of the HTC Bliss. We heard that the smartphone would be headed to Verizon in the US. We'll see. It's likely that the Bliss will be an upper-midrange handset.

As for all the women-focused bells and whistles such as the notification charm, only time will tell if they'll make it to the market or not.
source: Unwired View

New Samsung Android phone with QWERTY keyboard headed to AT&T. Is it its Galaxy S II?

We all know that the Samsung Galaxy S II is going to be released by AT&T, possibly under the Samsung Attain name. What we don't know is if the handset will resemble the standard Galaxy S II model a lot, or just a little (I'm sure you already noticed that AT&T's Captivate looks quite different from the Galaxy S i9000, the phone it's based on).

In any case, the new Galaxy for AT&T could have a QWERTY keyboard. And this is where this leaked photo of an unannounced and previously unseen Samsung Android smartphone comes in. According to BGR, the smartphone (seen below) will arrive in the coming months as one of AT&T's “new flagships”.

Unfortunately, there are no other details about this at the moment. However, we can see that the smartphone has four Android buttons, like the Captivate and the Samsung Infuse 4G. The QWERTY keyboard has the same four Android buttons, too – we've seen this type of keyboard on Verizon's Samsung SCH-I405, which is another unannounced Gingerbread handset.
source: Unwired View