O2 UK Releases LG Optimus Net

O2 UK has just announced the availability of the new LG Optimus Net on their network. The handset can be yours for free on monthly plans starting at 10.50 GBP (about $16) or for 129.99 GBP (about $204) on Pay As You Go. To refresh your memory, the Optimus Net packs a 3.2-inch 320 x 480 capacitive touchscreen display, an 800MHz processor, a 512MB RAM, a microSD card slot (2GB card included), a VGA front-facing camera, a 3.15MP rear-facing camera, GPS, 3G, WiFi and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. [O2]

Motorola Atrix receives new update

Motorola Atrix owners should keep a look out for an update notification on their phones starting today. While it's not Ice Cream Sandwich, the update is said to bring some noticeable improvements to the phone. The update brings the Atrix build number up to 4.5.141 and implements the latest Google Android security fixes, improvements to memory function as it relates to media applications and ability to prevent need for rebooting when phone is impacted by heavy loading or high temperatures (improved stability). It also lets you launch voice commands from a Bluetooth headset when the phone is asleep, improvements to WiFi settings and easier setup for Mobile Hotspot, improvements to text messaging, and all phone book contacts are kept after the upgrade. If you intend to install the update today, as usual - remember to backup all your important data. Bear in mind that the update is also said to break root access. Hit Settings > About Phone > System Updates to pull the update manually.

HTC Velocity 4G

It will surely benefit newer devices to try and catch up with what technology comes along the way. And now that 4G LTE may be considered as the next step in wireless mobile access into the Internet, smartphones may truly benefit as one of the initial adapters of this new technology. For HTC they are coming up with their own version of the 4G LTE smartphone in the HTC Velocity 4G. The HTC Velocity 4G is an Android smartphone that provides support for the new and upcoming 4G LTE connectivity. This will provide the smartphone with the ability to access the Web at vastly faster speeds than before. It comes with a 1.5GHz dual core processor, 1GB RAM, and up to 13GB of internal storage. It also comes with an 8MP rear camera that offers instant capture technology and a front camera for making video calls. The camera also has a 4.5 inch S-LCD touch screen and is also able to record and playback video in 1080p HD quality. Currently, the HTC Velocity 4G is available exclusively in Australia.  It is similar to HTC Vivid in the US which goes for around US$199 at AT&T.

iFixit pries apart the Droid 4, strips slider to see its silicon insides

Verizon's Droid 4 was officially released last week, so naturally, iFixit spent the weekend pulling the phone apart for all to see. Among the nuggets of knowledge uncovered during the teardown is the discovery that the fourth iteration breaks from Droid tradition in a couple of not-so-positive ways. First off, Motorola decided to integrate the keyboard into the motherboard, meaning if one of your keys quits working, you'll have to replace the motherboard, too. Not only that, but the Droid 4′s battery is purportedly no longer user-replaceable, though iFixit's deft disembodied hands were able to pry it loose with some effort. It's not all bad, as the teardown did confirm that the handset does, in fact, pack the promised 16GB of onboard storage. Don't take our word for it, though, there's a bevy of pics of the flayed phone for your perusal at the source link below, so hop on over for the full monty.

Gigabyte GSmart G1355 Dual-SIM Android Smartphone

Gigabyte has unveiled its new dual-SIM Android smartphone namely the GSmart G1355. Powered by the Google Android 2.3 OS, this GSM phone features an 800MHz Snapdragon single-core processor, a 4.3-inch (480×800) touchscreen display, HSPA-based 3G and a 5-megapixel digital camera. Its battery provides enough juice for up to 6-hour of talk time. [Androinica]

32GB GSM Galaxy Nexus cancelled, Google hopes 16GB will be enough for you

This probably won't matter too much to our American readers, but the 32GB version of the GSM Galaxy Nexus has been canceled according to Expansys and Negri Electronics. Initially the latest Nexus device was supposed to be sold in both 32 and 16 gigabyte varieties. But, for whatever reason, the larger capacity model never made it to market. Now, word is that it may never happen. A couple of importers are saying they've been notified by Samsung that handset has been discontinued, which is particularly bad news since the Gnex (as the cool kids in the forums are calling it) doesn't have a microSD slot. We hope you like streaming all your media.

Motorola outs Android 4.0 upgrade schedule, adds Atrix 4G, Photon 4G and others to the ICS party list

Ever since the debut of Ice Cream Sandwich, the masses of Motorola owners have yearned to discover when (if?) their devices would receive Android's latest and greatest. Well, Moto's finally let the cat out of the bag, setting out domestic and global timelines for its tablets and phones to get Android 4.0. Xoom WiFi owners here in the states have been enjoying ICS for a month, and Family Edition owners can expect the same tasty treat in Q2 of this year. Folks with RAZRs (including the Chinese MT917 variant) or XT928 (the Chinese evolution of the Droid X) in areas outside the US will be getting ICS in Q2 as well. Atrix 4G, Atrix 2, and Photon 4G owners around the world will have to wait until Q3 of 2012 for theirs, as will Xoom 2 and Xyboard owners. Motorola's blog, Inside Motorola, states that the Bionic, Droid 4, RAZR Maxx, and Electrify will be getting in on the action, too, but its engineers have yet to set a date for their upgrades. Head on down to the source links below to take a gander at the good news yourself.

HTC One S and One V rumored to join One X at Mobile World Congress

HTC could be rethinking their entire device naming scheme, choosing to go with the name/modifier motif deployed by other manufacturers such as Samsung and LG. Yesterday we learned that the HTC Endeavor could launch as the HTC One X, and new sources claim there will be an HTC One S and HTC One V at Mobile World Congress as well. The One S is said to be the device leaked as the HTC Ville, while the One V will be a 3.7-inch handset not unlike an HTC Rhyme with Beats Audio and Android 4.0. As was suggested previously, the letter designation is said to appear as a superscript to the ‘One.’ It sounds like HTC is trying to conjure up their own version of “Galaxy” or “Optimus,” which means we could still see these phones under other names on specific carriers, especially in the US. A push towards simplifying naming procedures should  not only help unify HTC’s Android lineup.

Alcatel OT-915 Android smartphone is headed to the UK

Alcatel may have been known back in the day for their feature phones (although they probably weren't considered feature phones back then), but it looks like the manufacturer may be trying their hand (again) at the smartphone market with the OT-915 Android smartphone that will be making its way into the UK. The company tried their hands at an Android smartphone last year during MWC with the Alcatel OT-990, but it looks like they might be back again at MWC with the OT-915 (pictured above) which supposedly managed to get its photo leaked on the way to the UK. However if you were expecting a high-end Android handset, you might be disappointed although we're guessing its Blackberry-esque keyboard might be of interest to those who prefer physical keys. The OT-915 will sport a 2.8" display with a resolution of 240×320, a 5MP rear-facing camera, WiFi connectivity with support for FM radios and unfortunately it will come with Android 2.3 Gingerbread on board. If we had to guess, it seems unlikely that Alcatel will be pushing Android 4.0 out to the OT-915. Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but the Alcatel OT-915 is expected to be made available in the UK before the end of the year – rather vague if you ask me.

Android 4.0 ROM leaks for the Samsung Galaxy Note

An Ice Cream Sandwich build for the Galaxy note has surfaced on a Chinese forum, marking one of the first chances for Note users to get their hands on an early build of Android 4.0. The particular build is geared towards a Chinese variant of the Note, the GT-I9220, and is not directly compatible with other models. The build is said to be an alpha or early beta with many features still lacking. Bluetooth and camera support are present, however. Recent rumors have the Note and Galaxy S II receiving ICS in March, but from the looks of the build it could still be a bit of time before we see the new OS on the 5.3-inch screen of the Note (assuming the leak isn't outdated). There is already an XDA thread for those interested in following development of the build.