Samsung Galaxy Xcover S5690 now available in the UK

The rugged Samsung Galaxy Xcover S5690 (also known as Galaxy Extreme) is now available in the UK SIM-free, a few days later than anticipated last week. You can buy the Galaxy Xcover either at Clove (for £226.80, or at Handtec (for £224.39). The new handset is IP67 certified, and features a 3.6 inch HVGA (480 x 320) Gorilla Glass display, TouchWiz UI, HSDPA, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, Bluetooth 3.0, 3.2MP camera, 800MHz processor, 512MB of RAM,150MB of storage space, and MicroSD card support (up to 32GB).

HTC Velocity will be Telstra's first 4G LTE Android phone

Back in September 2011 we've reported that Telstra would launch the HTC Holiday as Australia's first 4G LTE handset. And it will, it's just that the final name of the device has been changed to HTC Velocity. According to Ausdroid, the Velocity could become available at Telstra as soon as January 24, "for $0 upfront on Telstra's $79 cap." Also released in the US as the HTC Vivid, the Velocity features a 4.5 inch qHD (960 x 540) display, Sense UI, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera with 1080p video recording, and 1.3MP front-facing camera. (images via Gizmodo Australia)

Samsung R920 with LTE smiles for the camera on its way to MetroPCS

Well what do we have here? It looks like MetroPCS is getting ready to intro yet another LTE smartphone. The Samsung R920 will unsurprisingly be the successor to the Samsung Galaxy Indulge (R910) we saw last year, and pictures of it out and about have leaked on XDA Developers. So here it is in all its glory: The full model number here will be SCH-R920, and other than that nothing is known about this handset yet. Based on these images, we're not even sure if it will retain the Indulge's side-sliding QWERTY keyboard – but if it's going to be a true successor, it must.

Hands-on with the Intel-based Lenovo K800 [CES 2012]

Lenovo is the first to announce an Intel-powered Android smartphone, their K800 headed to China Unicom. We had the opportunity to go hands-on with the device here at CES 2012 and we can say definitively that there is a bright future for the Intel/Android combination. The phone features a 4.5-inch 720p display, 1GB of RAM, and an 8MP camera and runs Lenovo's custom interface on top of Android Gingerbread. We couldn't tell much of a difference between the this phone using the Medfield platform and devices running on ARM-based systems, and that's a good thing. Response was smooth, HD video didn't lag or stutter, and the camera was quick when flexing its “burst shot” (10 pictures in 1 second) muscle. It will be interesting too see how the market develops as companies such as Lenovo and Motorola begin to create devices using the different chipsets. The phone has a solid feel and a sharp design, with geometric lines and hard corners. Intel's SoC allows for a pretty thin profile, but the K800 won't set any precedents as far as that is concerned.

T-Mobile G2X reaches end-of-life

There comes a time when any smartphone reaches that sad moment called end-of-life. It's when the carrier selling it decides it's no longer on par with the competition for whatever reason, and should just be removed from the lineup. Completely gone, without a trace. And sadly on January 6 it was time for the T-Mobile G2X to go down that path. It was the first dual-core smartphone to be launched in the US back in April of last year, and it's certainly had a good run – in spite of some software glitches here and there. What you see above is a screengrab of an internal T-Mobile system showing the recently EOL'd devices, and yes, the G2X is there in all its glory (or lack thereof). Now all that's left is for us to find out what will succeed this device in the magenta carrier's portfolio. Expect news of that soon.

T-Mobile and Samsung introduce Galaxy S Blaze 4G

T-Mobile and Samsung just unveiled the Galaxy S Blaze 4G with a dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor, clocked at 1.5 GHz, Super AMOLED first generation display and HSPA+ 42 Mbps downlink speeds. Expected availability is later this year and prices aren't disclosed so far. Known specs are pretty scarce at the moment but it looks like a Galaxy S with an upgraded processor and 3G speeds. Source 1 | Source 2

16 MP Kodak Polaroid Android HD smartphone does optical zoom

Hey, look - it's Big Foot! No, it's just the Altek Leo, a creature that appears occasionally, the local newspaper writes about it and then disappears for another year. This time there's a big name attached to it at least, so maybe this time it will get a proper market release. Meet the Kodak Polaroid SC1630 Android HD Smart Camera. Styled like an old school camera, the Polaroid SC1630's crowning feature is a 16MP camera unit (was 14MP when we last saw the Leo), with 3x optical zoom, F3.1-F5.6 aperture, ISO up to 3200 and shutter speeds of up to 1x1400. There's a xenon flash to go with it too. The SC1630 can shoot 720p videos. On the phone side of things, there's quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G connectivity, microSIM card, a 3.2" WVGA screen, Android OS (not sure which version) and a 2.5mm audio jack (huh?). The phone is rather thick at 18.5mm, but if you look at it as a point-and-shoot camera it's actually quite compact. The battery is reportedly just 1020mAh, which is insufficient for all the mechanical zoom and xenon flash goodies, so we hope it will be replaced by the time the Kodak Polaroid SC1630 hits the shelves. Kodak's contribution to the project comes in the form of their proprietary compression technology, which allows the user to tweak the size of photos. The Polaroid Android HD will reportedly cost $299 when it hits the shelves in April, but Kodak is still in talks with carriers so it's unclear who will carry it. They are also considering offering the phone pre-paid. Source

Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX [CES 2012]

The Motorola Droid RAZR just hit shelves at the end of last year, but to reach its uber-thin design the built in battery was relegated to a 1700mAh rated battery. Given the phone’s large Super AMOLED display, dual-core processor, and LTE connectivity battery life just hasn’t cut it for some power users. No problem, here comes the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX. The MAXX retains all of the specs that made the original device shine but bumps it up to a 3300mAh battery, close to double the original. It still manages to earn the RAZR name with a thickness of only 8.9mm. The extended battery life equates to 8 hours of non-stop movie viewing. Another way to see it has the phone making it from LA to Las Vegas and back using Google Maps Navigation in one charge. Say goodbye to your car charger. While we wonder how the release of the RAZR MAXX will affect the currently available RAZR — things could get a bit confusing for customers wondering why last year’s model is still a viable option (we smell a price cut in its future) — Motorola is confident that offering a broader range of options will best meet consumer needs.

Sprint Announces LG Viper 4G LTE Android Smartphone

Sprint has announced a new Android smartphone from LG to its line-up called the LG Viper 4G LTE. Built with recyclable materials, this eco-friendly handset sports a 4.0-inch WVGA touchscreen Nova display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a microSD card slot (up to 32GB), a VGA front-facing camera, a 5.0MP rear-facing camera and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing and release date yet. [Press Release]

Sony Ericsson Rebrands as Sony Mobile Communications, DROID 4 Touted as Thinnest, Most Powerful 4G Smartphone & Lumia 710 and 800 headed to Canada

Sony Ericsson Rebrands as Sony Mobile Communications Sony Ericsson will be rebranding its mobile division as Sony Mobile Communications. All devices released from now on will be launched under the Sony brand, as released by the Sony Mobile Communications division. MobileSyrup Nokia Lumia 710 and the Nokia Lumia 800 Signal New Smartphone Dawn for Nokia in Canada The Nokia Lumia 710 will be available this February for $49.99 on select 3-year plans as part of Rogers' Smartphone Lite lineup of affordable devices. The bold Nokia Lumia 800 will be coming soon only to TELUS in black, as well as cyan and magenta options for customers looking to stand out from the crowd. CNW 2012 International CES Opens Show Floor Doors 10 a.m. PST Tuesday, January 10 The 2012 International CES opens its show floor doors at 10 a.m. PST on Tuesday, January 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More stories from the International CES and Exhibit Hours available. CEA DROID 4 Touted as Thinnest, Most Powerful 4G LTE QWERTY Smartphone Motorola unveiled Monday at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show a new device it's calling the thinnest and most powerful 4G LTE QWERTY smartphone. Mashable

Galaxy S Blaze 4G, from Samsung for T-Mobile's Users

Galaxy S smartphone is till in my wish list, I want it but my pocket doesn't support. I'm still an iPhone user since the iPhone 3G was released in 2008. I'm still waiting when the beautiful moment will come and join the Android fan boys. During CES 2012, Samsung and T-Mobile let people know that they will offer the Galaxy S Blaze 4G later this year, but when? there is no date yet.

Sony announces the new Xperia S at CES 2012

Sony is announcing their brand new phone that's carrying the 'Sony' brand, instead of the old 'Sony Ericsson' brand name. It's a very beautiful Android 2.3 set, and here it is in all its black or white glory. Featuring a large 1280 x 720 4.3-inch display, a quick 1.5GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, and will be available in both 16 and 32GB versions — but choose wisely as there's no internal storage expansion. The rear camera is a 12 megapixel affair featuring Sony's Exmor R backlit sensor, and a useable 1.3 megapixel camera up front to service all your video calling needs. The set should ship during Q1 this year according to Sony representative.

Sony Announces Xperia NX and Xperia Arco HD

Sony continues to experience its non-Ericsson (pending regulatory approval) lineup of smartphones with Sony Xperia NX and Sony Xperia arco HD. The handsets have been announced for the Japanese market and are spin-offs of other Sony models. The Xperia NX is a Japan-bound Sony Xperia S and features an identical spec sheet. The Xperia arco HD is the followup to the original Sony Ericsson Xperia arco. It earns its HD tag from the inclusion of a 720p Reality Display, the same featured on the Xperia S and Ion. Other features include an infrared port, NFC mobile wallet, and mobile TV support. Both devices will be available come Spring, but it looks like there are no plans to bring them outside of Japan.

Motorola SPICE Key is a Budget-friendly QWERTY Smartphone for Chile

Motorola continues to expand into the Latin American market with the introduction of the Motorola SPICE Key. The Android 2.3 smartphone is headed to Chile and features a full-QWERTY keyboards positioned under its2.8-inch touchscreen. Other specs include a 3MP camera, 1420mAh battery, and microSD memory expandable up to 32GB. The SPICE Key is now available from direct retailers.

Nokia Lumia 900 goes official

It looks like the rumors were true: the 4G LTE Nokia Lumia 900 has been unveiled at CES 2012 by Nokia. The 900 is packing a 4.3-inch ClearBlack AMOLED 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreen, 512MB RAM and Mango. Camera-wise, there's an 8-megapixel camera 'round back with a 28mm f/2.2 Carl Zeiss lens (likely the same as on the Lumia 800) with a dual-LED flash and a front-facing f/2.4 wide-angle lens that's great for wide angle shots. The polycarbonate-bodied 900 has a single-core 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU inside, but the big surprise is that it's packing an LTE modem for all that high-speed internet goodness. There's an 1840mAH battery rated for seven hours talk and 300 hours standby. It'll arrive stateside in the next couple of months in those lovely black or cyan colors we've come to love from the 800 and no — there's no word on pricing yet, but Stephen Elop did say Nokia would be “aggressive,” make of that what you will folks.

Samsung Captivate (finally) gets Android 2.3 Gingerbread

Despite the Samsung Galaxy S putting Samsung on the map in terms of Android smartphones, the Korean manufacturer didn't show a lot of love for the phone when it came to pushing out updates for the device - especially for the American variants of the device. Regardless of whether it was the fault of the carriers or Samsung, the Galaxy S was infamous for not having Android 2.2 (Froyo) for a very long time. And when the Froyo update was finally released, nobody really expected Gingerbread to be released for the Galaxy S within a reasonable time frame. However for those of you who still have your Samsung Captivate (the AT&T variant of the Galaxy S) - today is your lucky day. Samsung and AT&T have finally released the update to Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The update brings a whole bunch of new features to the smartphone, most notably - an improved user interface, better copy and paste, on-screen keyboard and more. And just like the previous update, users will need to plug their phones into their computers and update them via Samsung Kies Mini. Head here for instructions. As usual, back up your device before attempting anything, or wait it out a few days to see if anybody encounters and problems with the update before trying it on your own.

Sony Xperia S headed to O2 and Three in the UK, white version to be Phones 4U exclusive

The newly-announced Sony Xperia S will obviously be sold in the UK when it starts shipping. But where exactly, you ask? Well, so far two operators and one well-known thrid-party retailer have announced that they'll be readying Xperia S supplies for eager customers: O2, Three, and Phones 4U. What's more, the latter will be the exclusive seller of the white version of the smartphone in the UK. O2 took to Google+ to announce that the Xperia S is going to be in its stores later this year. Oh, and also to point out that the phone is “rather nice”. We rather agree. Next up, Three decided that a mere mention on a social network wasn't enough, so it went ahead and published a full press release on the matter. What's it say? That the Xperia S is coming soon to its phone roster. Phones 4U is even more proud, as it gets to claim exclusivity on the white Xperia S. And it's the only outlet that's given us any kind of indication on the release time frame. That will happen in March, at least for the white unit. Phones 4U will also sell the black Xperia S. Unfortunately, none of the aforementioned companies said anything about pricing, so we're left guessing at this point. But rest assured that we will bring you the information once it becomes available.

Unlocked Nokia Lumia 800 officially available in the US in February

The Nokia Lumia 900 may be the flagship device in the Finnish company's portfolio, but that doesn't mean it has forgotten all about the Lumia 800 or the Lumia 710, the first two smartphones in Nokia's new Windows Phone-based lineup. The Lumia 710 will be available at T-Mobile tomorrow. As for the Lumia 800, it hasn't been picked up by any carriers so far, but Nokia plans to bring an unlocked version to the US as soon as next month. This will be found in all the usual places (some of which offer imports even as you read this), and also, interestingly, in Microsoft's stores throughout the country. There's no word on pricing unfortunately, but do expect it to be lower than what the Lumia 800 imports are currently going for in the US. Because the Lumia 800 is a pentaband 3G device, you'll be able to use it (complete with HSPA support) on either AT&T or T-Mobile. You'll be able to buy the phone on its own, or as part of a bundle which will also include the Nokia Play 360 speakers and the Nokia Purity headset made by Monster. The unlocked Nokia Lumia 800 will be available in the US in cyan, black, and pink/magenta, so all the colors in which it's been sold internationally so far.

Fujitsu Arrows Is An Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad-core Godzirra Phone

Before we could even get our grubby little hands on the Fujitsu Arrows, an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core packing superphone (or “Godzirra-phone,” as I like to call it), Engadget managed to bypass security and get some almost hands-on time with device. We say “almost” because even though the early prototype was behind a thick, bullet-proof plexiglass, Fujitsu was giving a few lucky passerby's the opportunity to do a little gaming on the device using of a wireless Bluetooth controller. Because, let's be honest, how else are you going to put those 4-cores to good use? The rest of the specs are an Android fanboy's dream with a 4.6-inch HD screen, 13.1MP with an ISO 25600 and all running on that sweet Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Don't expect to see the powerful yet sexy handset to hit stateside anytime soon. When we had a chance to speak with Fujitsu about their plans to bring any of their handsets outside of Japan, all I received was a bellowed laugh that seemed to last an eternity. Even though that made chances seem pretty dismal to us, according to Engadget, Fujitsu is currently shopping around for a carriers stateside and in Europe. We'll bring you some hands-on time with the device a little later this week once the showroom floor officially opens.

Sony reveals the Xperia NX and Xperia acro HD for Japan

Along with the global Xperia S and the AT&T-bound Xperia ion, Sony revealed two more Android smartphones tailored for the Japanese market. The phones in question are Sony Xperia NX SO-02D and Xperia acro HD SO-03D. The Xperia NX and the acro HD are based on the Xperia S, with the NX even borrowing the design. Still, they have their additional features specially added for the Japanese people. The Xperia acro HD, is an NFC-enabled Android 2.3 Gingerbread-running smartphone with an infrared port and a TV tuner thrown. The two phones share a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, HD resolution display (1280x720 pixels) and a 12.1MP camera with Sony's Exmor R sensor. The Other specs for the Xperia acro HD and Xperia NX include a microHDMI port, 16GB memory and a 1840mAh battery. The acro HD will come in bunch of different colors like Aqua Blue, Black, Sakura Pink and Ceramich White, while the Xperia NX will be available in plain black and white colors. Expect the Xperia NX to pop up on NTT DoCoMo's network in February and the Xperia acro HD in March of this year. Source

HTC Titan 2 Hands-On

On the other hand, the Titan 2 has 4G LTE, which is much faster than the HSPA+ that the original Titan can connect to. That said, HSPA+ is also less demanding in terms of battery life, so there's a bit of a trade-off. In the end, the phones are comparable, and the Titan 2 could have been called Titan LTE instead of Titan 2. Finally you should know that the Titan 2 has a front camera that is compatible with Tango, a video call software that is a Skype competitor on mobiles.

Nokia Lumia 800 and Lumia 710 announced for Canada (Telus, Rogers)

After yesterday's big announcement (the Lumia 900 for AT&T), Nokia has also unveiled that it would launch the Windows Phone Mango-based Lumia 800 and Lumia 710 in Canada, via Telus and Rogers, respectively. The Lumia 710 will be released by Rogers in February as part of its "Smartphone Lite lineup of affordable devices." The Canadian carrier will offer the 710 for $49.99 with a new 3-yr contract agreement. Telus didn't say how much its Lumia 800 would cost (it should be more expensive than the 710), and neither when it would be launched. We only know that the handset is “coming soon” in black, cyan and magenta. We've heard that the Lumia 900 would also make its way to Canada, but for the moment there are no official details on this. Perhaps Bell will want to carry the 900? We'll see.

Verizon LG Spectrum hands-on

LG's press conference in Las Vegas just wrapped up and we quickly stormed the stage to grab you a few photos of Verizon's latest smartphone, the LG Spectrum. The Spectrum runs Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) but Verizon promises that it will upgrade the device to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) in the future. It offers a 4.5-inch true HD IPS display - it looks amazing up close - an 8-megapixel camera capable of recording 1080p HD video and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. It also supports Verizon's blazing fast 4G LTE network. LG wouldn't let us hold the device in our hands, but we were able to get a good look at its relatively thin design and super sharp screen. It will be available on January 19th for $199.99 with a new two-year contract. Hit our gallery for photos of the LG Spectrum.

Sony Xperia ion with 4G LTE heading to AT&T

Sony and AT&T have announced the Xperia ion, a name we saw trademarked last week. The Xperia ion features a 4.6-inch 1280 x 720 HD Reality display with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a massive 12-megapixel Exmor-R rear camera that can capture 1080p video. Additionally, the device sports LTE connectivity, 16GB of internal storage, and a 1.3MP front-facing camera that can record 720p video. The smartphone follows in the footsteps of the Xperia Play and comes “Playstation-Certified.” The ion will be released running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, in the second quarter of this year, with an Ice Cream Sandwich update in the future. Read on for Sony's full press release. Xperia ion revealed - first LTE smartphone from Sony available exclusively from AT&T · HD powerhouse - two HD cameras, 4.6-inch1 HD screen and HDMI-out support · Unmatched Android camera experience in the US with 12 megapixel rear camera · Effortless sharing of content with easy connectivity across multiple screens within the world of Sony · PlayStation™ Certified and access to entertainment services from Sony Entertainment Network January 9, 2012, Las Vegas, Nev. - Xperia™ ion, the first LTE smartphone from Sony®*, was introduced today at the 2012 International CES and will be available exclusively in the U.S. from AT&T in the second quarter. Xperia ion from Sony enables easy connectivity with multiple screens for consumers looking to share and enjoy content on whichever screen they choose, whether it's TV, smartphone, laptop or tablet. Xperia ion from Sony has a stunning 4.6-inch HD display (1280 X 720 pixels) that provides a visual brilliance for superior viewing experiences. For photo enthusiasts, Xperia ion features a new Fast Capture innovation to make sure life's unexpected moments are not missed: the HD camera goes from standby mode to first shot in 1.5 seconds.1 The impressive images taken with the 12-megapixel rear camera are unmatched by any other Android smartphone. Additionally, both rear- and front-facing cameras deliver HD recording capabilities. “With Xperia ion, we're bringing together several firsts that will take users beyond the smartphone,” said Paul Hamnett, President, Sony Ericsson North America. “Designed to deliver a seamless experience across the multiple screens we use to play, watch, listen, and share, Xperia ion is the gateway to entertainment when and - most importantly - where you want it.” Xperia ion users will be able to access the richest entertainment experiences from Sony Entertainment Network. Music Unlimited offers a global catalogue of 15 million unique songs while Video Unlimited has the latest Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows from all major studios. Xperia ion is also PlayStation™ Certified, guaranteeing a high quality smartphone gaming experience. Key Features for Xperia ion: 4.6-inch HD Reality display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine with HD resolution screen (1280 x 720), as well as rear (1080p) and front (720p) cameras for HD recording. 1.5GHz dual-core processor for fast browsing and content download, which can be stored on the internal 16GB flash storage. 12MP rear camera with Sony Exmor R™ for mobile with fast-capture to go from standby to first shot in less than two seconds. HD sharing through DLNA, HDMI and BRAVIA Sync to quickly and easily stream content on other screens.

Sprint unveils Samsung Galaxy Nexus LTE, LG Viper

LTE is big on this year's CES. We've seen a couple of devices headed to AT&T's corner of the market and now Sprint is getting its own 4G lineup. The LTE version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is landing at Sprint along with the eco-concious LG Viper and the Sierra Wireless Tri-Network Hotspot. The Spring Galaxy Nexus sports the acclaimed 4.65-inch Super AMOLED HD display, Android Ice Cream Sandwich, CDMA and LTE combo network support and 5 MP camera capable of 1080p video capture on the back. The LG Viper is made from recycled materials, sports a 4" WVGA display, LTE connectivity, a 5 MP camera and a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor. NFC and Google Wallet are enabled on both the Viper and the Galaxy Nexus. Finally Sprint unveiled the Sierra Wireless network hotspot, which offers a 3G/4G/Wi-Fi powerhouse combo that supports up to 8 users at a time. We're yet to learn the specific release dates of Sprint's Galaxy Nexus and LG Vigor and their pricing. Source 1 | Source 2 | Via

Sprint Offers Two LTE-Capable Smartphones

Sprint is about to unleash its LTE network in selected markets and America's third largest wireless carrier has introduced a couple of compatible Android smartphones. The Sprint Galaxy Nexus (right), which was leaked in a recent online ad, is the carrier's take on the Nexus handset. This one has just 16GB of internal storage (compared to 32GB of the Verizon model), and sports a faster processor than its Verizon counterpart at 1.5GHz. Meanwhile, the LG Viper 4G LTE (left) comes with 4-inch Nova display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread, and an NFC chip that supports Google Wallet mobile payment system. It is also created with the environment in mind, as its case is partially made of recycled plastic and it ships with a super-efficient AC adapter. No word on availability, though, but expect them to arrive really soon.

HTC Titan II hands-on

HTC and AT&T took the wraps off of their latest device during an AT&T press conference on Monday, the HTC Titan II. The device is the first 4G LTE-enabled Windows Phone to be announced at the show but it won't be the last - Nokia CEO Stephen Elop confirmed earlier on Monday that the Finnish vendor will unveil an LTE Windows Phone as well during its press conference. The Titan II is a fantastic first LTE device for Windows Phone fans, as long as the monstrous size isn't a turn off. The phone sports the same 4.7-inch Super LCD display as its predecessor, but the build is much different. The unibody aluminum case from the Titan has been replaced by a soft-touch plastic - we liked the aluminum case a lot more so we're definitely sorry to see it go - and the dark black color has been replaced by a light gray. The user experience is still among the best available; like the Titan, the Titan II is unbelievably responsive and smooth. Differences of note beyond the case are the embedded LTE radio, of course, and the 16-megapixel camera. Images taken with the camera were definitely impressive on the Titan's display and on our MacBook Air, but we didn't have an original Titan handy to compare photo quality. Where data speed is concerned, however, there was obviously no comparison.

Fujitsu ARROWS ES IS12F waterproof phone

[CES 2012] Fujitsu leads the way in terms of fashionable Android-powered phones that are waterproof – their latest model being the Fujitsu-Toshiba ARROWS ES IS12F, where it will be made available to KDDI au in Japan. Despite being waterproof, you will not be able to tell it with a glance, considering how svelte it is at just 6.7mm thin. After all, waterproof devices tend to be part of the rugged variety, and those are normally not thin at all. What about the system specifications? Fujitsu has packed in the Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread operating system coupled with a snappy 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8655 processor. A 4″ AMOLED display with 480x800 resolution and 100,000:1 contrast ratio will certainly please your eyes, even when you are underwater and need to scroll through your text messages. 1GB ROM, 512MB RAM, a 5.1-megapixel CMOS camera, Bluetooth 2.1 and WiFi connectivity, DLNA support, an e-wallet function (NFC), an integrated digital TV tuner and a microSDHC memory card slot for expansion purposes rounds off the list of features. Fret not if you do not know any Japanese, as the Fujitsu ARROWS ES IS12F will also come with an English menu system. No idea on pricing details though, but do enjoy an image of it swimming above.

Mirach Dual SIM Android Smartphone

The Mirach is another budget-friendly dual SIM Android smartphone from Chinavasion that sports a 3.2-inch 240 x 400 resistive touchscreen display, a 680MHz processor, a 256MB RAM, a 256MB of internal memory, a microSD card slot (up to 16GB), dual GSM SIM card slots, dual cameras, WiFi, Bluetooth, a 3.5mm headset jack, a built-in speaker, a 1000mAh battery and runs on Android 2.3 OS. The Mirach can be yours for just $90.95 fully unlocked. [Product Page]

Sony Ericsson LiveView 2 to be announced at CES?

[CES 2012] Yesterday at CES some folks spotted an interesting looking device at the Sony Ericsson booth: a new gadget that looks a lot like the Sony Ericsson LiveView that was released last year. Resembling a bulky digital watch with a huge screen, the gadget comes with a green wristband that has a “spring-loaded clip” which should make it easy to attach or detach. No description was given with the device, but for now it's assumed to be the next generation LiveView, unless Sony Ericsson has something more creative up its sleeves. We'll keep you posted if we learn anything new.

Huawei Ascend P1 and Ascend P1 S droid beasts announced

Huawei just unveiled two super-sleek Android smartphones - the Ascend P1 and P1 S. At just 7.69mm the Huawei Ascend P1 S is one hot droid, while the P1 S profile measures the amazing 6.68 mm. And the fun doesn't stop there either - both new Huawei smartphones have 4.3" Super AMOLED displays of qHD (540 x 960) resolution (much like on the Motorola RAZR) with Gorilla Glass on top. The Ascend P1 and Ascend P1 S are powered by the same TI OMAP 4460 chipset with a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 1.5 GHz processor and a PowerVR SGX540 graphics chip and run the latest and greatest Android 4.0 ICS. The Ascend P1/P1 S come with 1 gig of RAM and 4 gigs of storage memory. On the back there are 8 MP sharpshooters with Backside illuminated sensors for better low-light performance, dual-LED flashes, HDR effect and 1080p video capture. The duo also packs 1.3 MP front-facing cameras with 720p video capabilities. Both of these beasts will feature quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE support plus pentaband UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA, Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0 HS. Available in metallic black, ceramic white, cherry-blossom pink the duo will hit Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, Australia, Middle East and China starting Q2 from this year. Source | Via

Huawei Ascend P1 S Announced as World's Thinnest Smartphone [CES 2012]

The battle for World’s Thinnest Smartphone continues, this time with Huawei announcing the Ascend P1 S and claiming that it bests every other smartphone in the world in belt size (6.68mm). For how long will it hold the title? We don’t know… it’d be lucky to survive the rest of CES at this rate, but regardless, it’s one super thin phone with a solid list of specs to go along. The Ascend P1 S rocks Android 4.0, 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4460 processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen with 960 by 540 pixel resolution, and Gorilla Glass. An 8MP camera and 1.3MP front facing camera offer Dual-LED Flash and 1080p HD video capture. A second version of the phone, called only the Ascend P1, offers the same set of features but is slightly thicker at 7.69mm thick. The Ascend P1 and P1 S will be available around the world in April 2012 in many different colors. While Huawei continues to make better and better Android devices, they have yet to breakthrough has a household name… will the Ascend P1/P1S change that? Find out with continued coverage as we get hands-on footage of the brand new device. Las Vegas, U.S.A., January 9, 2012: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, unveiled the world’s slimmest smartphone today at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The Huawei Ascend P1 S is 6.68mm thin and features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED 960 x 540 touchscreen with Corning® Gorilla® Glass. The Ascend P1 S is also the fastest and most compact smartphone in its class with a dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4460 Cortext-A9 processor and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. "We’re excited to unveil the world’s slimmest smartphone here at CES 2012," said Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei Device. "The Ascend P1 S demonstrates our ongoing commitment to innovating high quality devices that utilize the latest hardware and software technologies." Huawei also unveiled the Ascend P1 which, as part of the same smartphone series, boasts the same functionality while measuring 7.69mm. Delivering the ultimate in elegance and speed with a 1670mAh/1800mAh battery, the Huawei Ascend P1/P1 S series provides the fastest multi-tasking, video replay and gaming experience in its class. The Huawei Ascend P1/P1 S series feature a super-sleek and narrow 64.8mm body, elegant contours and an effortlessly stylish design. The PPVD back cover coating evenly distributes heat, and provides a strong metallic, three-dimensional design with a delicate texture. The Ascend P1/P1 S is available in metallic black, ceramic white and cherry-blossom pink with more colors to come to match your personal style wherever you are, whatever you’re doing. The Ascend P1/P1 S brings your digital world to life with its impressive 8-megapixel BSI rear-facing and 1.3-megapixel HD front-facing cameras with dual flash LED and HDR effect optimization. The Ascend P1/P1 S allows you to capture special moments in sharper, brighter and clearer detail both in light and dim environments. Relive your most memorable moments on the Huawei Ascend P1/P1 S with its stunning 1080p HD video-capture capabilities. Its high speed data connectivity through 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth and in-built social media capabilities enable you to instantly share your photos and videos via social media. The Huawei Ascend P1/P1 S will be available in Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, Australia, Middle East, and China from April 2012.

SpareOne phone runs on just one AA battery

[CES 2012] You know these modern day smartphones? Sure, they might be able to feature boatloads of bells and whistles that lack just the kitchen sink, but their battery life is rare enough to push beyond one day's usage with all the options turned on. The SpareOne phone, on the other hand, takes a far more prudent approach by being the only phone in the world that is powered by a solitary AA battery while being capable of maintaining its charge up to 15 years. I would be loathe to review that, considering how it would be 15 years later before I can verify this aspect of the phone in a real world situation, but otherwise, I guess if you need an emergency phone anytime, anywhere in the world, you can't go wrong with SpareOne and you will not even be bothered by the fact that it does not support Angry Birds. This dual band GSM phone will play nice with alkaline, NiMH or lithium batteries, sporting a talk time of up to 10 hours and being able to hold its charge for up to 15 years if unused – assuming you use Energizer's Ultimate Lithium AA battery, of course. Leave it in the car, basement or in the garage, and never worry about it not being able to work due to a dead battery months, or even years down the road. It will use a microSIM card though, and the SpareOne will hit the market this quarter for $49.99 with plans for a WCDMA frequency model for selected regions in the pipeline as well.

HTC Rezound now cheaper at Verizon: $199.99 on contract

Released by Verizon in mid November for $299.99 on contract, the HTC Rezound is now $100 cheaper - thus if you're getting it online (here), or from a Verizon store, you'll only have to pay $199.99 (on contract, of course). Sure enough, Amazon is offering the Rezound for even less: $149.99. But Verizon's deal is still a great one if you like to buy handsets directly from your carrier. The HTC Rezound is the first smartphone launched in the US with Beats Audio. The device runs Android Gingerbread (upgradeable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich), and features a 4.3 inch HD (1280 x 720) display, LTE connectivity, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, 2MP front-facing camera, and an 8MP rear camera with 1080p video recording.

Sony Ericsson MT27i Pepper will be the Xperia Neo V's successor, leaked images suggest

A new Sony Ericsson Android-powered smartphone has leaked ahead of a possible official unveiling during CES this week. The Sony Ericsson MT27i has the codename Pepper and looks like it's going to be the successor to the Xperia Neo V (which, in turn, was the oddly downgraded successor to the original Xperia Neo). The Pepper keeps the Neo and Neo V's 3.7-inch 854×480 touchscreen, but will have a dual-core 1 GHz processor, and a new design reminiscent of that seen on the Nozomi. The Pepper will also get a 5 MP camera with 720p HD video recording, LED flash, and noise-suppressing mic. It will run Android of course, and surely Sony Ericsson will dip the Pepper in some TimeScape UI overlay. As you can see, the prototype Pepper has a back side in two color tones, though it's unclear if the shipping model will retain that feature or not. If it won't get announced during CES, then the Pepper will almost certainly make an official appearance in Barcelona at MWC in February.

Pantech Burst Android Smartphone

[CES 2012] Pantech intends to burst (pardon the pun, I cannot resist it) onto the smartphone scene with their latest addition, the Pantech Burst. Coming in the similar form factor as that of other standard Android-powered smartphones, the Pantech Burst will target the budget-conscious crowd, considering a 2-year contract with AT&T accompanied by a mere $49.99 price tag allows you to bring home the Burst. The Pantech Burst is also the first 4G LTE device from Pantech, sporting a 4" Super AMOLED display, Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread as the operating system of choice, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of internal memory that can be further augmented thanks to a microSD memory card slot, and dual cameras with the 5-megapixel rear shooter letting you record 720p resolution video as well. You can choose from either black or red colors, and hopefully the 1,650mAh battery is able to last the distance. I suppose if you do not happen to play games at all and use its data connection sparingly, the Pantech Burst would make a great companion, but otherwise, it is still a decent entry-level phone for those who want to dip their toes into the Android world for the first time. Definitely not as shabby looking as other cheap phones, so you need not feel ashamed of pulling it out from your pocket in a social setting.

HTC Titan II (Radiant) with LTE, Windows Phone and 16MP camera announced by AT&T

Remember that rumor abut a possible HTC Windows Phone handset with a 16MP camera? Well, such handset now exists - it's the new HTC Titan II (previously known as HTC Radiant), officially announced by AT&T just moments ago. Unlike the Titan that's already available at AT&T since November, the new Titan II comes with LTE connectivity - so it's a true 4G device. Other than that, the Titan II looks a lot like the older model. It has a 4.7 inch WVGA display and a 1.5GHz processor. As for its 16MP rear camera, this has wide-angle lens (f2.6, 28mm), dual LED flash, autofocus, and is capable of shooting video at (only) 720p. For the moment, that's about all we know regarding the HTC Titan II, but more details (including a price and a launch date) should become available pretty soon, and we'll share them with you.

HTC TITAN 2 announced

[CES 2012] It didn't take too long, but it's finally here - Windows Phone LTE devices are now on their way. Today at CES, HTC announced its first LTE Windows Phone device - the HTC TITAN 2. Serving as a sequel to the original HTC TITAN, it will still have the humongous 4.7″ display, 1.5GHz Snapdragon S2 processor, Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango), and 4G LTE connectivity. Other features include a 16-megapixel camera with a wide-angle lens, autofocus, dual LED flash, red eye reduction, image stabilization, a backside-illuminated sensor and a physical camera button; a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera, a 1,730mAh battery, and the HTC Hub. The HTC TITAN 2 is expected to arrive on AT&T's network in the coming months. No mention of price at the time of writing. Anybody excited?

Motorola Droid 4 Announced

Motorola and Verizon Wireless have just announced the newest version of their epic line of Droid phones: the Motorola Droid 4. The duo are claiming the device is the thinnest 4G LTE QWERTY Smartphone on the planet. If that’s a tongue twister you can’t tie your noodle around, let me put it in more basic terms: the Droid 4 is only half an inch thick and has a full 5-row slide-out keyboard and 4G connectivity. Pretty impressive. Some quick Droid 4 Specs: 1.2GHz processor 1GB RAM Android2.3.5 (Android 4.0 coming soon) 4.0-inch qHD display Scratch and scrape resistant glass, water-repellant nanocoating for splash resistance 8MP camera with 1080p video HDMI mirroring MotoCast 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot support (up to 8 devices) Water-repellent nanocoating for splash resistance 16 GB on-board memory MicroSD slot There will be a line of accessories available for compatibility with the Droid 4 including a 10.1-inch lapdock, 14-inch lapdock with webcam, HD Dock, HD Station, and Vehicle Navigation Mount. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced, but are expected to come in the following weeks. My opinion is torn with the Droid 4. I used to be a huge hardware keyboard proponent who couldn’t live without one. The Droid 4 performs what seems to be magic by cramming a full 5-row QWERTY Keyboard into a .5-inch thick frame with a solid set of alterior specs. But personally, with tremendous growth of touchscreen accuracy and performance, I’ve found my own interest in hardware keyboards to wane. I still see the huge benefit of them for different use cases, but for the average consumer I think 4.0-inch+ touchscreens and greatly improved display input and technology have pushed hardware keyboards onto their last leg in terms of mainstream mobile adoption.

Fujitsu to Show Tegra 3-equipped Smartphone Running ICS at CES 2012

The CES show floor won't open until tomorrow morning, but some exhibitors are already releasing the cats from their bags. Fujitsu let it slip at last night's CES Unveiled event that a Tegra 3 smartphone will be hitting beast mode in their booth later this week. The unnamed device isn't specced out completely in its initial showing, but we can expect the quad-core processor to be powering Android 4.0. ICS at CES? I'll take that combination of three-letter acronyms any day. Given that it's an international trade show and Fujitsu has been rather shy about bringing their smartphones to the US, this is one opportunity to go hands-on that we will be sure not to miss.

AT&T Unveils 4G Windows Phones, New Android Devices

From left to right: Samsung Galaxy Note, Samsung Exhilarate, HTC Titan II and Sony Xperia ion. LAS VEGAS — You knew it was coming. A huge wave of new smartphones, crushing last year's measly models with their impressive display, processor and camera specs. AT&T announced new 4G smartphones from Samsung, HTC and Sony, unveiling a lineup of large displays, dual-core devices (sound familiar?) and ever more capable cameras. If you're looking to buy a smartphone in 2012, here's a peek at the big-screen stunners you can look forward to pocketing. Don't worry — we'll have more photo, video and hands-ons as the week progresses. HTC Titan II This is the sort of handset Windows Phone fans have been waiting for. HTC announced the world's first 4G LTE Windows Phone today, the Titan II. The Titan II is the supercharged sequel to the original Titan announced this fall. The Titan II gets its name from its mini-tablet-like 4.7-inch super LCD capacitive touch display. It packs a whopping 16-megapixel digital camera with features like image stabilization, a wide-angle lens, dual LED flash and red eye reduction. You can kiss that $100 point-and-shoot goodbye — this phone can shoot 720p HD video, and boasts a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera (something most current Windows Phones are lacking) for video chatting. A Qualcomm 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S2 processor is the brains behind this beastly phone, while a 1,730 mAh battery will keep that display shining bright. The HTC Titan II will be available “in the coming months” through AT&T, HTC said. Samsung Galaxy Note The 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy Note bridges the gap between smartphone and tablet with its 5.3-inch Super AMOLED screen. An interesting thing about this smartphone-tablet hybrid is that it includes a stylus (what Samsung calls an “S Pen”) for drawing on the screen in a finer resolution than your index finger can manage. The stylus can be used in collaboration with Samsung's S Memo app, which can capture images, voice recordings, handwritten notes and drawings, and typed text. Using the stylus, you can tap the screen of the device to take a screen shot, which you can then edit, draw on or annotate as needed. We first got a peek at this device and the rest of its specs back in September, which include a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of on-board storage and a 2500 mAh battery. It's got a 2-megapixel front facing camera and 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. The Note will run Android Gingerbread, and will be available through AT&T in two colors: carbon blue and ceramic white. Sony Xperia ion The Xperia ion is Sony's first foray into 4G LTE in the smartphone space, and it is absolutely loaded on just about every front. First up, the Xperia ion has a 4.6-inch 1280×720 pixel display, and is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. It's got 16 GB of internal flash storage. The Xperia ion has not one, but two HD cameras, shutterbugs: a 12 MP rear-facing camera that can shoot 1080p, and a 720p capable front-facing camera. The camera can go from standby to first shot in 1.5 seconds. With that high def screen and high def video-taking capabilities, you don't want to keep all that bottled up on your phone. DLNA, HDMI and Bravia Sync let you share and stream content to other displays. Unfortunately, it runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread instead of Google's brand spanking new Ice Cream Sandwich OS. But the ion is PlayStation Certified, for those of you who want to continue your PlayStation gaming experiences on your smartphone. AT&T HTML5 App Store AT&T also unveiled something completely new today: an HTML5 Android app store, perhaps the first viable alternative for developers and users looking to be freed from the constraints of native mobile app development. AT&T's new HTML5 AppCenter will be a “new kind of app store” according to senior vice president Jeff Bradley. The store will be filled with a collection of pointers to apps in the Android Market or to developer websites. AppCenter will let developers get their apps into Android users' hands faster by allowing them to submit “unwrapped” HTML5 apps. AT&T also has a tool called the Application Resource Optimizer (ARO) that developers can use to minimize their app's battery usage. Devs can start playing with ARO now. AppCenter is available for Android devices as a beta starting today, and other platforms — possibly including iOS — will follow later this year.

Sony announces Xperia S with a 12MP camera and HD screen

It turns out that the Xperia ion isn't the only hot device that Sony has prepared for US at this year's CES. The smartphone which leaked numerous times as Nozomi, finally went official under the name Sony Xperia S. The Sony Xperia S features a 4.3" display of HD resolution (720x1280 pixels). The heavy-lifting is done by a MSM8260 chipset with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. The Xperia S offers 16GB or 32GB of internal storage but there's no expansion option. At the back of the Xperia S resides a 12-megapixel camera with Sony's Exmor R backlit sensor, while at the front there's a 1.3MP camera for video calling purposes. Sadly, the Xperia S will come with Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box, but don't fret as it will get an Ice Cream Sandwich update in the second half of 2012. The Sony Xperia S will be available in two colors - silver and black and should hit stores at the end of the first quarter of 2012. Source

Sprint intros Samsung Galaxy Nexus and LG Viper LTE Android smartphones

Several days after we've seen that mistakenly published ad which prematurely unveiled Sprint's plans, the carrier has now officially confirmed that it would launch the Samsung Galaxy Nexus as one of its first 4G LTE products. Alongside it, Sprint will release the LG Viper, a brand new smartphone that also has LTE connectivity. Already available at Verizon Wireless, the Galaxy Nexus is the world's first smartphone to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It features - among others - a 4.65 inch HD (1280 x 720) Super AMOLED display, NFC, Google Wallet (only on Sprint), dual-core processor, and 16GB of internal memory.   The LG Viper will be launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, featuring a 4 inch WVGA Nova display, NFC, Google Wallet, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 5MP rear camera, and a VGA front-facing camera. The Viper is an eco-friendly handset - its "casing is made of 35 percent recycled plastics", and there's a "charger with a no-load consumption rating of .03W, which exceeds the EC Code of Conduct on energy efficiency." Sprint didn't unveil when exactly the Galaxy Nexus and LG Viper would be released, but it should happen before mid-2012. At about the same time, customers will be able to buy the Sierra Wireless Tri-Network Hotspot, which provides access to 3G, 4G WiMax, 4G LTE and Wi-Fi networks. Sprint didn't say anything regarding the prices of these new devices. You can find out more here at Sprint's LTE webpage.

LTE HTC Titan II with 16 MP camera revealed, heads for AT&T

The LTE-packing HTC Titan II just made its public debut at CES 2012. What might turn out to be the hottest Windows Phone smartphone for sometime to come is going to hit AT&T in the first half of the year. First and most important, the HTC Titan II features the amazing 16MP camera at the back, making it the first Windows Phone device (and the first smartphone available outside Asia) to do so. For more hands-on photos of the LTE HTC Titan 2, check out our blog. But the HTC Titan II's camera isn't the only thing making headlines in the Windows Phone world. The Titan 2 has the same 4.7" LCD as its predecessor, which is as large as it gets in WP land. The chipset inside this one is Qualcomm Snapdragon S2, featuring a 1.5GHz Scorpion CPU and there's LTE connectivity on-board. the Titan II sounds like quite a hit for AT&T and HTC. We got some hands-on time with the device and we even have a few camera samples to show you. Keep in mind that due to the WP7 restrictions we were only able to download the images downsized to 2 megapixels. We'd be doing our best to bring full resolution samples from the monstrous camera as quickly as possible, though. Head over to our blog to check out more camera samples from the LTE HTC Titan II 16MP camera. Source

Motorola DROID 4 and DROID RAZR MAXX announced

[CES 2012] After months of rumors, leaked images and speculation, it looks like Motorola is ready to unveil its upcoming smartphones. Today on the Motorola blog, the company announced the launch of two new phones: the DROID 4 and the DROID RAZR MAXX - and the previously released DROID RAZR in purple. Not many details have been released about the devices, but we can expect to find out more in the near future. The DROID 4 is everything we've covered before in the past: it features a DROID RAZR-inspired design, and features a 1.2 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, a 5-row QWERTY keyboard and 4G LTE connectivity. The DROID RAZR MAXX will be an updated version of the regular DROID RAZR - it features a super long lasting battery that is said to provide up to 21 hours of talk time. Whether or not it lasts that long, I guess we'll have to put it through the motions to find out. But it looks like those rumors we've heard in the past are true after all. Stay tuned for more details.

Prada Phone 3.0 by LG Now Available For Pre-Order At Clove UK

The all new Prada Phone 3.0 by LG is now available for pre-order in the UK via Clove. The handset retails for 429.99 GBP / $663 (VAT included) and will start shipping from February 6th. To refresh your memory, the Prada Phone 3.0 by LG sports a 4.3-inch WVGA Nova display, a 1GHz dual-core processor, a 1GB RAM, an 8GB of internal memory, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, an 8MP rear-facing camera with 1080p Full HD video recording, GPS, HSPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, a 1540mAh battery and runs on Android 2.3 OS. [Product Page]

Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch Now Available In Frost White

Samsung is ready to release the frost white version of the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch. The smartphone features a 1.2GHz Exynos processor, a 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus WVGA display, an 8MP rear-facing camera with a full HD video recording, a 2MP front-facing camera for video call and 4G support. The frost white Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch retails for $199.99 with a two-year contract. [Press Release]

Samsung Galaxy S 'Value Pack' firmware leaks

A few days ago we heard from Samsung that they have dropped plans to release the 'Value Pack' update to Galaxy S owners, which was supposed to improve performance and add features found in Ice Cream Sandwich. The reason for this stated by Samsung was hardware limitations of the device. Now, however, the Value Pack firmware has leaked online. List of improvements include the additions of Face Unlock, improved camera performance with the ability to take pictures while recording videos, image editor from the Galaxy S II, new lockscreen sounds, and improved performance in browser, gallery and gaming. This doesn't tell us though whether Samsung will officially be releasing it. They may have tested this update and later on decided to cancel it. Whatever may be the reason, you can now download it and try it out on your phone. The less brave among you would want to hold on for a while longer to see if Samsung officially releases the update. Source

LG Spectrum User Guide Now Available for Download and Hungry Eyes

While we still may be a bit of ways away from the LG Spectrum we’re learning more and more about the device every day. Just a few days ago it was revealed that the Spectrum would be Verizon’s version of the LG Optimus LTE. Today, we’ve gotten a downloadable user guide for the device. Seeing one of these usually means we’re close to a launch but with the heavy lineup Verizon introduced in the last quarter of 2011 we wouldn’t be surprised to see this thing come out as late as February. As with any user guide you might not find many useful things here but it’s nice to get a peek anyway. Download here. [Droid-Life via VZBuzz]

AT&T to get their own flavour of the Samsung Galaxy Note

CES looks to play host to AT&T's suspected unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Note for the US market. The Pocket Now team have some pretty sharp looking images that could at least demonstrate how the Galaxy Note would look if it joined AT&T's lineup. The key difference is expected to be in the layout on the front, especially with their previous flavors of Galaxy S II and Galaxy S II Skyrocket devices in mind. Both of which follow the more typical four button layout for Android devices, at least over the twin capacitive, single hardware key layout used by the likes of the European Galaxy S II. AT&T's Note is said to utilize a 5.3" Super AMOLED which displays at a healthy 1280x800 pixels, sport Android Gingerbread and offer LTE functionality too. Once CES has kicked off, we can apparently expect to see the SGH-I717 Samsung Galaxy Note by February 14th. Source