Earlier this month they announced the AT&T Impulse 4G by Huawei and that it would be offered for just $29 with a new 2-year contract, and that is exactly what we have here. Following right along with their outline saying it would be offered later this month the Impulse 4G is available now and we’ve received some hands-on with it already.

This is one extremely inexpensive smartphone that starts off right where most older Android smartphones began. We have a 3.8″ 480×800 resolution display, 800 Mhz Qualcomm processor, 512MB of ram and a nice little package all wrapped with an aluminum bezel on the front and a soft touch matte cover for the back. With a 5MP camera on the rear with LED flash and a 2GB micro-SD card included the only thing holding this baby back is the OS. We have Android 2.2 FroYo on board. While it is completely stock Android that many will enjoy, I’m sad they went with a pretty old version of Android instead of the popular and widely available 2.3 Gingerbread.

With hardly any bloatware included out of the box this is basically a standard and stock vanilla Android experience. This device is clearly aimed at a newcomer to a smartphone, kids, or someone that has been using a feature phone for a while and would like to try a smartphone for a change. Offering a great overall package, 4G speeds (HSPA+), and a great low price this little guy is destined for greatness — maybe. Compared to a few other entry level phones like the Wildfire S this appears to hold its own quite well but we’ll know more after a full review.

For now enjoy our hands-on and unboxing video, as well as a few pictures in the gallery below and expect plenty more to follow shortly.

AT&T Impulse 4G by Huawei Hands-on and Unboxing

This is great news for Netflix subscribers who have had to rely on leaked APKs to get the app running on unsupported Android phones. Unfortunately, the update still doesn’t support all Android tablets, which have much more suitably sized screens for enjoying a Netflix subscription.

So far, the only tablets that support Netflix are the Lenovo IdeaPad K1 and the Lenovo ThinkPad tablet. The app allows subscribers to stream movies and TV shows over WiFi or 3G connections as well as to manage their DVD queues.

[via Android Community]

Just a few days ago we did our hands-on and unboxing so feel free to read up on that here. To get us started here is the video below.

LG Thrill 4G Hands-on and unbox

Hardware

The hardware is elegant and simple in design but bold with what lies underneath. The dual-core 1 Ghz TI OMAP 4 CPU, glasses-free 4.3″ display and dual 5 MP cameras on the rear are the treat with this baby. Also powering the Thrill 4G is Android 2.2 with an included 8 GB micro SD card for storage. LG is calling this the first device on their “Tri-Dual” architecture. What that means — dual-core, dual-memory, and dual-channel. It features true dual-channel RAM to help speed things along and keep all that 3D goodness smooth and pretty.

Now on the left side of the device you have the micro HDMI-out then the micro USB port for charging/sync and they are nicely protected with easy to remove covers.

Over to the right we have barely noticeable buttons to keep the design simple. There is the volume rocker and then that all important 3D button that brings you instantly into the 3D selection page.

Then up top you have the 3.5mm headphone jack, noise cancellation pinhole, and the power/standby button. The buttons all feel nice and are easy to touch, the EVO 3D buttons were squishy and difficult at times. (EVO 3D left, Thrill 4G right)

The rear has a soft coat plastic that helps it from slipping and the front top and button bezels are like a brushed aluminum, it looks and feels nice and has a good even weight in the hand.

Software & Performance

Like mentioned above we come in running Android 2.2 Froyo but hopefully it will see 2.3 Gingerbread soon. It has a light user interface overlay courtesy of LG that looks similar to the Samsung TouchWiz and overall it’s not very intrusive and doesn’t seem to slow down or lag the device like some other UI’s. Pre-installed apps I’ll start right with the good stuff and that is 3D. We have a 3D camera, 3D gallery, 3D games, 3D guide to help out, Asphalt 6, Gulliver’s Travels, Lets Golf 2, Movies, and NOVA all in 3D for you to enjoy.

Other pre-installed apps include Amazon kindle, Live TV, Qik for video chat, AT&T barcode scanner, Polaris Office, and Yellow Pages. Not too much bloatware as most of it has uses or is 3D related.

Regarding performance I have ran a few benchmarks including Linpack, Quadrant, and Vellamo for the browser and network performance. Linpack scores were extremely low but Quadrant and Vellamo lined up nicely with other dual-core phones available but was behind the EVO 3D in Vellamo. Here are some results below.

Then the poor linpack score, but it’s always scoring higher on Qualcomm devices.

While benchmarks reveal some information they aren’t all the news. If you’ll look over the Quadrant result you see the I/O and 3D score is much higher than other devices. This is thanks to the Tri-dual technology in the LG Thrill giving great I/O performance as well as top quality 3D output.

Camera & 3D

This is where things get interesting, Welcome to the 3D party LG. The cameras on the rear are both 5MP so only record in 720p rather than 1080 but they do give you some great 3D video and image captures. Having the 3D show up on screen wasn’t the easiest task but here are a few shots so you get an idea, but don’t take these as actual results because it looks far better in real life.

As far as the regular camera, it works great for being only 5MP and the quality was great but low light we had more noise than expected. Here are a few test images with the regular camera below.

A little bit of noise and fuzz here but the room had pretty bad lighting.

Even though I don’t usually test the video capture unless its 1080p we gave it a small test run just to show my always helpful puppy has some ball skillz. Now that the lockout is over for NFL I’ll try and get him signed as he catches everything I throw his way.

Battery

With a 1540 mAh battery under the hood we can expect to see average daily usage. Many phones from HTC including the myTouch 4G, Sensation 4G and others all come with a similar sized battery. From my initial tests it seems even though the EVO 3D packs a huge 1730 mAh battery the Thrill 4G seems to last a good hour or more longer at least. I’ve been comparing both and will post pictures below and so far the Thrill is ahead of the small 3D wolf pack. I’m thinking the newer generation TI OMAP 4 CPU is a little more efficient and thus helping battery life.

EVO 3D Comparison

Now this is where things get a bit tough for me as both of these devices are extremely well made, have great performance and pack a major punch in the spec’s column. First off the LG Thrill gets bonus points for having not only HDMI-Out but the cable was included, the EVO 3D does not feature HDMI out. You can record 3D with the Thrill and stream it over HDMI to your 3D ready 56″ or whatever size home TV — I love it!

They are very similar in all aspects with a very close size, shape, weight, and overall feel but I personally like the Thrill 4G better. With AT&T’s great #2 in the nation service and call quality (which was excellent on the Thrill, loud and clear) along with not having an intrusive user interface like the HTC EVO I’m going to have to give this one to LG.

While the EVO 3D [see review] does get a few bonus points for the 2D/3D toggle and dedicated camera button it’s a little huge and almost just as much a con as it is a pro. The 3D performance and technology is basically the exact same in both phones so its hard to call it. I feel like the potential for a headache is not as bad with the LG but that could be due to the brightness of the display etc. You’ll just have to check em both out in stores and see for yourself.

Wrap-Up

To wrap things up I’ll go ahead and post a few more photos for everyone to enjoy. It was really quite fun working with the Thrill 4G this week or so. At first I didn’t like the covers on the ports but I’ve grown to like them and its now a preference instead of just something I’d deal with. I myself don’t own a 3D TV or I’d have tried out some 3D videos that is for sure, watching it from the device is plenty enjoyable if you are ok with just having 4.3″ of real estate.

This phone features everything a user would want in a high-end Android phone (unless 3D isn’t your thing). If you think 3D is a gimmick or a waste of space this phone is still equally as impressive and works great even if you never use the 3D aspects it has to offer. It sits right along the top of the list along with the Samsung Galaxy S II, Sensation 4G and even the PHOTON 4G we just reviewed. Now my last bit of info is the kicker, you can have this device with a new 2-year contact for ONLY $99 dollars from AT&T. They plan to sell plenty at that price so you’d better hurry. Enjoy!

Not only does it come in at a great price, but it’s a Motorola phone running stock vanilla Android 2.2 Froyo with no custom user interface or overlay, no moto blur. This is completely stock Android as Google intended it to be. Pair that with a simple yet powerful phone and no contract, this sounds like the perfect phone for a lot of users. Before I get started here is our full hands-on and unboxing.

Hands-on video

Hardware

To quickly go over the hardware we have a 4.1″ 480×800 resolution display, a 5 MP camera with VGA for front video chat, and single LED flash. The Triumph does have HDMI-out as well and this is all powered by a 1 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It also has 512 MB memory as well as an included 2GB MicroSD card for storage. The overall design is something you’ll recognize right away if you’ve ever held a Motorola Droid or the Droid X as it features a very similar squared design as well as a extra soft touch coating on the back in matte black.

The Micro USB charging port and HDMI-out are nicely placed on the bottom of the device with the unlock/power button on the left edge of the phone versus the top. The power, volume rocker, and camera are all accented in an aluminum silver finish to make things look sharp. One big part of hardware I wanted to mention was what appears to be stereo speakers. The very bottom on each edge of the device is a decent sized speaker grill and sound comes out extremely loud and clear from both sides, the back cover doesn’t come off or I’d do a little inspection. I wish all phones had the loud volume this phone does. My Sensation sounds like a tin can in comparison.

Software & Performance

Like mentioned above the phone comes in running a completely stock, base version of Android 2.2 Froyo. Motorola added nothing to the user interface or widgets and this is completely how Google released it. I personally am a huge fan of vanilla android and would prefer not to use OEM UI overlays. Motorola’s Moto Blur software has been the least favorite for me so this was refreshing to see. As expected with basically very similar internals to something like the myTouch 4G performance is great. It runs smooth and seamless and I didn’t have any slowdowns ever.

Virgin did add some bloatware but much and i mean MUCH less than most carriers do. Pre-installed applications other than standard apps are airG Chat, Poynt for finding businesses and stores nearby, Where, and Virgin Mobile Live — that is it. I’ve seen devices come with upwards of 15 or more pre-installed apps so to only see a few is nice as we can install what we need when that time comes from the market. It did have Twidroyd and Facebook but those don’t count as bloatware because most people use social network apps right?

Also running a few benchmark apps the Motorola Triumph was right where I expected with Quadrant scoring around 1700 give or take. Comparing that with similar spec’d devices it sounds just about right as we have a 1 Ghz CPU here and it’s single core.

Overall I really enjoyed using the stock Android 2.2 on this device, I’ve been using HTC Sense lately and even though its nice I do enjoy the stock Android experience.

Camera & Battery Life

The Motorola Triumph comes in with a 5 MP single LED flash camera and although it does a pretty decent job I was a bit surprised with the quality. It didn’t seem to take as great of pictures as I was expecting but overall they are pretty decent. I took a few with medium room lighting and it manages ok. The camera also is 720p capable for video recording as well as the front facing VGA camera. Here are a few test photos with the Triumph camera.

The battery is only 1380 mAh compared to most phones having a 1520 or so battery so I was a bit concerned with battery life. The battery lasted through a full day of use with browsing, twitter, and the usual phone calls and texting but I did find myself reaching for my charger more than I have in the past. I’d say it gets close to a full days work with a single charge but you might want to have a charger in your car just to be safe.

Wrap-Up

To wrap things up I’ll start by saying for anyone using Virgin Mobile that have yet to try an Android device this would be the perfect device for you. It is simple, and clean, with a very sleek design as well as running completely stock Android. This is a great phone to introduce someone into a smartphone, or Android in general. With good build quality like Motorola is known for, higher end mid-range specs and a 4.1″ screen you can’t go wrong for $300 off contact.

This phone is a huge step for Virgin Mobile as it’s not just a pay as you go cheap feature phone you’ll use for a few months and forget about. Users wont pay for a few months and then stop using the service like with the average flip phone, this is a quality device someone can use for years to come with Virgin Mobile. It is available as of last week and can be yours for just $299. I highly recommend this phone to anyone considering moving to pay as you go, or that currently uses Virgin Mobile.

Most of the specs we already know but I’ll go over the important parts. It features a 1 Ghz dual-core TI OMAP 4 processor, a 4.3″ 480×800 glasses-free 3D diplay, then it has those cameras around back. dual 5 megapixel cameras for capturing 3D help out around back. LG is calling this the first device on their “Tri-Dual” architecture. What does that mean — dual-core, dual-memory, and dual-channel. It also comes standard with an 8 GB Micro SD card and a 1540 mAh battery all wrapped up and running Android 2.2 FroYo but should get Gingerbread soon.

Overall the design is pretty sleek and you could even call it purdy. The rear has those cameras as well as the aluminum strip that matches nicely with recent LG offerings such as the LG G-Slate and G2x. The back cover is a soft touch plastic with a very light and barely noticeable pattern that almost seems like it was carbon fiber inspired, it’s a nice touch. Around front is the usual capacitive android buttons as well as that all popular front facing camera for chat. The device features HDMI-Out and they supplied the cable unlike most carriers or OEM’s so thank AT&T and LG for that one.

I don’t want to give away too many details before the full review but the phone has plenty of 3D inspired apps installed. We have 3D Pictures, 3D videos, 3D games, and even a 3D youTube. Gameloft has a 3D game market that has been pre-installed for all you fans. I played NOVA 2 in 3D for about 25 minutes today instead of working, it was that fun. The dedicated 3D button nicely takes you right into all the 3D action and I liked they made it so simple.

I will keep this short and sweet so make sure to check out the video unboxing below for more details as well as all the photo’s in the gallery to enjoy them in the full size goodness they were intended. Full review will be coming shortly after I’ve enjoyed this beast for a few more days.

Its not that I have anything against Motorola’s Blur or whatever you want to call its android UI overlay (shh i really don’t) its that I really just love stock vanilla Android. Toss that on a thin, simple and basic design like the Triumph and you might have a winner. Not to mention you get to pay as you go and get it off-contract over on Virgin. Anyone else liking the sound of this yet? It features a 4.1″ display, 5 MP shooter on the rear with VGA around front, it can record in full 720p and even features HDMI-Out because its all running on a 1 Ghz processor. It’s no dual-core but it will more than get the job done.

This will most likely be the flagship Android phone for Virgin Mobile and it aims to put most mid-range phones on the backburner with its elegant design along with the competitively priced carrier. I wont be buying that purple Exhibit 4G on T-Mobile if I can get this Triumph instead.

Overall it has a very clean and thin design, the edges are nicely curved where it looks good but doesn’t feel squared. I’ve said the word simple a few times in this post because that is what I think of when I look at the phone. Not simple in a bad way but just a simple and clean design (no weird diamond shaped cameras like the Charge) and I actually like and appreciate the design direction. It has the same soft touch coat on the back we are used to from Motorola and it feels good in the hands.

Hands-on video

If the recently released Best Buy pre-order price is to be believed users should be able to snag this up contract-free for the low price of just $299. It officially will be available for Virgin Mobile come Wednesday, July 20th and we will have a full review just in time so stay tuned so you can get a better idea before you make a decision.

To start things off first I want to compare it to a Blackberry. The same hardware in the Droid Pro was reviewed by Vincent like linked above and he took the time to sit it next to the BlackBerry Torch so we could see the keyboards for a nice comparison. So I’ll start with that then get into the video for you all to enjoy.

As you can see the Motorola XPRT keyboard is very similar. The keys have little lips so you know where one key ends and the next begins and they have a nice, solid feel to them. Not only does it have a great keyboard but the XPRT comes packing a 1 Ghz processor, Android 2.2, a 5MP shooter on the rear with dual LED flash, a 3.1″ 320×480 display and all the enterprise features a previous Blackberry user would need, with corporate email and calendars included.

The XPRT has a great candy bar shape and is sized around 4.74″ x 2.4″ x 0.51″ (120 x 61 x 13 mm) and weighs only 5.1 oz. Like we said above it is aimed for business users and it has that qwerty keyboard along with a huge 1860 mAh battery that should last you ALL day and more. Only powering a 3.1″ screen and having a battery larger than almost all current Android phones this thing should get you through any busy work day. It also comes with 2GB internal memory and an included 2GB MicroSD card for those that need additional storage.

Motorola XPRT hands-on and unboxing video

My question for any readers that may use a Blackberry, is this your next phone? Would you consider leaving your Blackberry for an Android device like this with a full market and all the games we love on Android?

This might not be the best Android phone out but it has some top quality specs and should be able to do just about anything you need and play most the available games as well (for when you get bored at work of course). With corporate email and calenders as well as added security I don’t see why not. Feel free to check out the rest of the photos below and stay tuned as we will be reviewing this phone over the next few days and will report back with more details.

Before I break it down a little bit here is the hands-on and unboxing video for you to get a better idea of the hardware of the phone.

Samsung Dart hands-on and unboxing

Hardware

The Samsung Dart also known as the Galaxy Mini is one of the smallest Android phones around. Weighs just around 3.80 oz and sized at 4.09 x 2.40 x 0.51 although it might feel large if you’re coming from a flip phone or a everyday feature phone but for most Android users this is a small device. One of the phones biggest pros is also a con and that is the screen. It has a 3.14-inch TFT display with a low 240×320 resolution so it isn’t the best looking display, but that small screen gives this phone pretty great battery life. Below you can see both the phone and its screen size compared to the other recent Samsung offerings.

It has a 600 Mhz CPU as well as a 3.2 MP camera on the rear, the battery is 1200 mAh so like I said above it lasts plenty long when it only has to power that size of a screen and processor. The overall design is actually pretty nice and the reason I say that is for a mid-range phone that is free with a new 2-year contract it has some decent build quality. The Samsung Gravity Smart slider actually feels a bit cheaper in comparison.

Software and Performance

It has a 600 Mhz processor like stated and even though you wont be playing some of the latest games in the Android Market it will handle some and I was able to play Angry Birds on the phone. I know that is a big deal to some. Performance while scrolling through homescreens or the app tray seemed great for what you pay for. It was quick and snappy and didn’t seem to freeze or lag, but then I’m not doing anything all that consuming either. It is running Android 2.2 so thing feels pretty smooth. It comes with Swype, Wifi Calling and a few other apps pre-loaded and that is all. They kept that list short but that is better than having apps you wont ever use.

Camera

The camera is a 3.2 MP shooter but it lacks an LED flash so you better make sure you have enough lighting to get the job done. It does have a decent face detector feature but the auto focus seems to be lacking and I had a hard time getting a great shot. The shutter speed was quick and once focused the photos turned out good for only being 3.2 MP. Here are a few test photos so you can see the quality yourself.

Auto focus could have been better for close-up photos but it still turned out ok. (If you like blurry close-ups)

Wrap-Up

Again this is the Samsung Dart, a mid-range device from Samsung on T-Mobile USA and it is available right now. If you’d like to compare it to the other three devices coming from Samsung for T-Mobile we’ve reviewed the Exhibit 4G and unboxed the Gravity Smart with a full review coming soon. Those are your choices from the mid-rage T-Mobile list in the Android world.

To finish things off I’ll just say no this phone might not be the best, but for what you are getting and the price you pay it is a great little starter device. The build quality and software running on Android 2.2 make for a seamless and smooth day to day experience. My only concern is the screen resolution is low and it does have a pretty blurry display. I think the original G1 might have looked better but that is just a guess. For any first timer getting a smartphone or for your kids this would be a good start. Make sure you check out all the photos in the gallery below so you truly get a feel for the hardware. Thanks for reading.

We’ll start off with a few specs just so you are up to spec. It is small and lightweight Android phone running on Android 2.2 and an old version of Touch Wiz, has a 600 Mhz CPU and a 3MP camera on the rear, but no led flash or anything although you do get a 2GB MicroSD card for all those photos and videos. At first I thought it was a 3.2″ screen like that of the Gravity Smart but quickly found out it was actually smaller, and had a lower resolution. Picture below shows the Exhibit 4G on the left, then Gravity Smart followed by the Dart on the right.

I have to mention it because it is a huge factor in a smartphone since you look at the screen all day, but the Samsung Dart has one of the lowest quality displays I’ve seen to date and I honestly think my G1 looked better. The issue is the 3.14″ screen is only sporting a 240 x 320 resolution and most lower end phones at least are 320×480 in that department. In general the rest of the phone actually feels pretty nice in the hand and of decent build quality. Here is the video below

Samsung Dart hands-on and unboxing

Other than the fact that the display actually is fuzzy enough to give me a headache the phone is quite nice. Android 2.2 works pretty well and the 600 Mhz CPU seems to be enough for a device like this. It comes with Swype pre-installed and it works great and screen responsiveness wasn’t an issue. The phone is currently free with a new line or 2-year contract on T-Mobile or can be bought outright for $200 if you wish. This would probably be a great first smartphone for your kids.

For now check out all the pictures below and get a better look at the device and I will be messing with it over the next few days and will post some final thoughts with a review shortly.

Just like its sibling the Samsung Exhibit 4G I opened up yesterday the Gravity Smart also comes with some decent apps pre-loaded, things you wont just want to delete like Bejeweled 2 and UNO. Yup remember UNO? Well now you can play it on your Gravity Smart because it comes pre-installed for your convenience. It does come with the Swype Keyboard as well but that seems odd since I’m assuming most will use the hardware keyboard but more options are always a good thing.

Like I said above the overall build quality is quite nice but the case that covers the back has almost a cheap plastic type feel to it that makes it seem a little lower quality than it probably is. Sadly the specs aren’t the best but for a mid-range device aimed more at texting than gaming or entertainment it should do fine. It sports a 3.2″ display and comes in running on Android 2.2 FroYo, it has a 3 MP camera on the rear with LED Flash, pre-installed 2GB MicroSD card and more all powered by a decent little 600 Mhz CPU to keep things chugging along.

Samsung Gravity Smart hands-on and unboxing video:

For now I’m going to be playing with this little slider text messaging machine for the next few days and see what I think, first off I can already say I wish the spacebar was a full key and didn’t have the little swirl to it as I sometimes miss the key. I’ll be sure to get a few rounds of UNO played just for old times sake and I’ll let you all know how it goes. Feel free to ask any questions down below in the comment section and I’ll check it out. Don’t forget to view the photos in the gallery below.

The MSRP for the tablet is $249.99 and the 730 is set to hit at the end of June. For a price that low, you don’t get the high-end specs that the $500 or more tablets offer. What you get under the hood is Android 2.2 for the OS, an ARM Cortex A8 processor, and 512MB of RAM. Internal storage for the tablet is 8GB and that can be expanded with microSD cards up to 32GB. The screen is a 7-inch 800 x 400 resolution unit and the contrast ratio is 400:1.

The screen is rated for a brightness of 380 CD/M2. Other features include 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, integrated speakers and mic, and a VGA resolution front camera for video chats. The 730 also has a 3.5mm headphone port, mini HDMI output, and mini USB port along with the MicroSD card slot. The battery is a 5000mAH unit good for up to ten hours. This should be a decent entry-level tablet for people looking to buy their first.

[via Android Community]

Hardware

Powered-off and side-by-side with the original DROID X, and beyond the color – dark gray initially, now black – you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between it and the DROID X2 at a casual glance. Measuring the same 5.02 x 2.58 x 0.39 inches and weighing the same 5.47 ounces, the soft-touch black chassis follows Motorola’s “blunt and aggressive” school of design and looks good for it. We could do without the bloated camera section on the back, though, which protrudes a little more than is comfortable.

Turned on, and the DROID X2′s first advance is clear. As on the HTC Sensation, Motorola has used a qHD 4.3-inch panel running at 960 x 540 resolution, versus the 854 x 480 of the DROID X. It’s a regular LCD panel rather than anything fancy like Super AMOLED, but it’s bright and clear nonetheless, only coming unstuck in direct sunlight outside.

Underneath there are four physical buttons – menu, home, back and search – while above are proximity and ambient light sensors. No front-facing camera, though, leaving you with just the 8-megapixel autofocus camera (with dual-LED flash) on the back. Oddly, Motorola has deleted the dedicated camera shortcut button. Despite the extra grunt from the dual-core processor, as on the original DROID X, the X2 can only shoot 720p, rather than 1080p Full HD.

As in the ATRIX 4G, Motorola has turned to NVIDIA and the 1GHz Tegra 2 to keep the DROID X2 ticking, pairing the chip with 512MB of RAM. That’s the same as in the original version, but half of what the ATRIX gets. Connectivity falls short too: there’s EVDO Rev.A but no LTE to take advantage of Verizon’s speedy 4G network. Similarly absent is Global Roaming support, which means the DROID X2 is limited to CDMA networks and can’t use the GSM/HSPA networks common in Europe and Asia. Still, you get WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth, both microUSB and microHDMI ports – the latter offering screen mirroring on your HDTV – and a microSD card slot to augment the 8GB of internal storage.

Software and Performance

Motorola updated the original DROID X to Android 2.2 back in September 2010, and it seems the company isn’t willing to give up Froyo quite yet. The DROID X2 launches running the outdated version of Android – rival phones are shipping with Gingerbread – along with the custom MOTOBLUR-inspired UI.

That’s been tweaked a little since we saw it last, with the addition of categories in the applications menu – All Apps, Downloaded and Recent – as well as the ability to create your own to group together themed apps. There’s also a helicopter view of all seven homescreens just like in HTC Sense. The resizable widgets are carried over, and there’s a persistent four-icon launcher along the bottom of the homescreen (which can obviously be customized).

Social networking is catered for with a pair of homescreen widgets and a standalone app, pulling in Facebook and Twitter updates and allowing you to set your own status on both simultaneously. Verizon preloads its V CAST Music and VZ Navigator apps, along with the Blockbuster movie rental apps, while Motorola adds the Kindle app, Skype, Slacker and Quickoffice. Need for Speed Shift and Let’s Golf 2 make an appearance in trial form, as on other Tegra 2 devices we’ve seen.

It all works, but we’d gladly sacrifice MOTOBLUR for stock Android 2.3.3. Motorola has said a Gingerbread update is in the pipeline, but not committed to a release timetable as yet. As the Android Market continues to grow, and the core OS itself gains more abilities, manufacturers need to offer more than token modifications to make a good argument for customizing software. We’ve a strong suspicion that most DROID X2 owners will end up bypassing Motorola’s Twitter and Facebook support in favor of more functional third-party alternatives, for instance.

As for performance, we’re used to seeing decent benchmarking figures from the Tegra 2 and the DROID X2 follows suit. In Quadrant Advanced, it scored 2743 overall (with 7241 in CPU and 2846 in I/O), more than double the DROID X’s 1353. SmartBench 2011 brought in scores of 2775 for the X2 and 844 for the X; impressive, but still lagging behind the overclocked 1.2GHz goodness of the Galaxy S II, which managed 3830. Finally, in the SunSpider JavaScript test, the DROID X2 came in at 4182.2ms versus the DROID X’s 7596.5ms (lower is better).

Camera

Motorola promises faster camera performance with shots being grabbed faster on the X2 than on the original DROID X, even without the dedicated shortcut key. In practice we noticed things were a little more responsive, but only as long as you had decent lighting. Once things got a little darker, the lag between tapping the screen and the frame being captured increased, resulting in some underwhelming photos that lacked the crisp focus we were hoping for. Colors were bland and stills often grainy; the dual-LED flash is one of the more powerful we’ve seen, though.

As for video, just like the ATRIX 4G, Motorola has limited the DROID X2 to 720p rather than Full HD recording, despite the Tegra 2 being capable of the higher resolution. Footage is good, as long as you move the phone smoothly to avoid tearing on faster pans. Exposure adjustments are swift and there’s plenty of detail, though occasionally we noticed some hiccups in the eventual clip as if the DROID X2 was having issues writing to memory. You can play back clips directly via the HDMI connection, or upload them from the phone to YouTube for online sharing.

Phone and Battery

With many smartphones seemingly forgetting that users do still make voice calls rather than just game, browse and message, we were pleasantly surprised by the DROID X2′s in-call audio performance. Background noise was minimal and neither we nor the people we spoke to had any problems with glitchiness or audio artifacts, thanks to Motorola’s triple microphone array and DSP. The speakerphone was also solid, with plenty of volume without breaking up into boominess or noise.

The obvious omission is 4G, disappointing given how impressed we’ve been with Verizon’s LTE network so far. Data speeds were solid for a 3G-only device, but nothing outstanding, a shame given the browser is responsive and the high-resolution display so well suited to streaming video and showing full webpages.

Motorola claims up to 480 minutes of talktime or 220 hours of standby from a full charge of the DROID X2′s 1,540 mAh battery. In practice, we made it through a full day with some judicious tweaking of the four battery profile modes (Maximum, Nighttime, Performance and Custom) to adjust data use.

Wrap-Up

The original DROID X shifted the Android game forward; we even suggested that, with Android 2.2 in place, it could be the Google phone to beat. Unfortunately it seems Motorola has let that kudos go to its head in designing the DROID X2. The higher-resolution display is nice, and the dual-core processor welcome, but other elements of the smartphone fall short: the camera is still patchy unless you’re blessed with the brightest of lighting, the 720p HD limitation is frustrating, and Motorola’s decision to stick with Froyo unfathomable.

The DROID X2 has improved, but the Android marketplace – and the smartphone segment in general – has advanced more. The DROID Charge may run at WVGA but its Super AMOLED Plus display is brilliant and its LTE connectivity a real advantage; if it’s dual-core performance you’re after, the T-Mobile G2x delivers on Tegra 2′s 1080p HD video promise, while the upcoming T-Mobile Sensation 4G and Samsung Galaxy S II are even faster.

Motorola hasn’t made a bad phone, but it hasn’t made an outstanding one either, and right now that’s what it takes to stand out in the Android marketplace. With heavy hitters offering greater performance, better cameras and fresher software, it’s tough for the DROID X2 to raise its head above the crowd. Devotees of the original DROID X will find plenty to like in this incremental update, but this isn’t the class-leading smartphone it once was.

Droid X2 Unboxing and hardware walkthrough

The pattern goes like this: 1.5 Cupcake, 1.6 Donut, 2.1 Eclair, 2.2 Froyo, 2.3 Gingerbread, 3.0 Honeycomb, and what’s next? The letter “I” is next. It’s almost certainly Ice Cream, but because they’ve already gone with Froyo for one of their earlier iterations, they’ve got the differentiate the image. How about adding a few more scoops and some toppings? Sounds tasty!

This is one of those rumors that really doesn’t affect the world one way or another, but is certainly a fun little tidbit to think about. Ice Cream or Ice Cream Sundae or Ice Cream Sandwich or whatever you call it is certainly a few months away, at least, since Gingerbread isn’t even on more than a couple devices out in the wild right this moment (legally, that is.) Therefor, who knows? Let’s celebrate the moment with whichever tasty treat we choose!

Sprint’s first attempt to update the Epic 4G to Android 2.2 Froyo was plagued with various problems including messing up data connectivity and impairing access to media stored on the SD card. The only solution for many Epic 4G owners was to do a hard reset, which wiped out all their data.

The new update coming this Monday, March 21, will bring Epic 4G devices up to Android Froyo 2.2.1 EC05 and the entire process may take the whole week to finish as updates are rolled out in batches over-the-air. If you are an Epic 4G owner needing the update, be sure to backup everything first!

[via Android Community]

Hardware

If you’ve used an HTC smartphone recently then the ThunderBolt’s design won’t surprise. Like the EVO 4G and Inspire 4G before it, there’s a 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen display in a mostly metal chassis. At 4.75 x 2.44 x 0.56 inches, Verizon’s phone is narrower and shorter than its 4G counterparts, but thicker; part of that is to accommodate the sturdy metal kickstand that can prop the ThunderBolt in both portrait and landscape orientation. It’s not a light phone, either, at a noticeable 6.23oz.

The display is a regular TFT LCD, not Super LCD or AMOLED, but it’s impressive nonetheless: crisp and bright, with decent colors and touch-responsiveness. Given all that real-estate, though, we wish HTC had looked to a qHD panel like Motorola offers on the (smaller) ATRIX 4G. Above it there’s a 1.3-megapixel fixed-focus camera along with the usual light and proximity sensors, while a row of touch-sensitive home, menu, back and search buttons run under the screen.

Physical controls are limited to power/lock on the top edge (next to the 3.5mm headphone socket) and a volume rocker on the right edge. The microUSB charging port is on the lower left edge, while the microSD slot is under the easily-removed battery cover (and comes pre-loaded with a 32GB card). On the back there’s an 8-megapixel camera with auto-focus and a dual-LED flash, along with a speaker grille that’s hidden under the kickstand.

Inside there’s Qualcomm’s 1GHz single-core Snapdragon MSM8655 chipset paired with 768MB Of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. That’s running Android 2.2 Froyo with HTC’s custom Sense interface and widgets, more on which in the Software section. Aside from the 4G LTE radio, there’s CDMA/EVDO Rev.A, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 though, unlike other recent high-end devices in Verizon’s stable, the ThunderBolt isn’t a “World Phone” and so lacks GSM connectivity for use outside of North America. GPS, an FM radio, g-sensor and a 1,400mAh battery round out the key specs.

Altogether, it’s a solid – if by now over-familiar – story. Many will argue that HTC make the best Android devices around, and the company has certainly built its modern reputation on phones running Google’s platform. Nonetheless, there’s a sense that – 4G aside – the ThunderBolt is retreading old ground, one of the last of the single-core flagships as HTC tools up for dual-core handsets to take on Tegra 2 powered rivals.

Software

Android 2.2 Froyo dates all the way back to mid-2010, a full release behind what’s running on the Google Nexus S. HTC is obviously readying Gingerbread – the Desire S is expected to ship with Android 2.4 in Europe sometime in early Q2 – but the effort involved in integrating the Sense customizations has a significant impact on timeliness. That not only means devices launch running old software, but that subsequent OS updates are delayed in comparison to “stock” phones.

To an extent, that’s the compromise you accept in opting for HTC Sense, and the combination of preloaded apps, UI reskinning and plentiful widgets continues to make HTC’s devices a popular choice among first-time Android buyers together with existing users. As the native Android interface grows more polished, so HTC has upped its game to maintain the Sense value proposition: European buyers of recent HTC Android devices get access to HTCSense.com, an online portal with remote access, tracking and sync support.

However, the ThunderBolt doesn’t get that; instead, it ships with various pre-loaded Verizon apps, including VZ Navigator mapping, NHL and NCAA sports apps, the Amazon Kindle app, Visual Voice Mail, Mobile IM, Blockbuster, Slacker, Let’s Golf 2, Rock Band, TuneWiki, a separate eReader app, the VCast App Store and City ID, among others. It’s a whole lot of bloatware, and frankly we’d rather Verizon had simply put the titles up for access through the Android Market so we could pick and choose what takes up space on our phone.

Unfortunately, the one app we’d like to have seen is Skype with video chat support, and that’s currently missing. Verizon’s custom version of the VoIP app won’t install and simply says an update is coming, while the generic Skype app will install but won’t recognize either of the cameras. In fact, there’s no way out of the box to make video calls. Qik will use the rear camera for recording video but won’t access the front camera, while Fring couldn’t use either camera for video calls. Neither Verizon nor HTC could give us a timescale on when we might see a native video calling app, but as it stands the 1.3-megapixel front camera is basically pointless for anything other than vanity photos.

Camera and Multimedia

The ThunderBolt’s main camera shoots 8-megapixel stills and 720p HD video, and is on a par with other recent HTC handsets for quality. Images are decent in daylight, with good detail and realistic color balance; though suffer from noise in low lighting situations. The dual-LED flash is bright, and works as a video light, but lacks range for nighttime shots.

Sample 720 video recorded with ThunderBolt

Video, meanwhile, is very good, with accurate colors and the ThunderBolt handling transitions between bright and dim scenes without complaint. There’s little motion blur or blockiness in high-contrast areas, which is an improvement over previous HTC handsets. Coupled with the speedy 4G connection, which makes on-the-go uploads far more realistic, we could see the ThunderBolt being a useful tool for mobile videographers.

As for watching video, the ThunderBolt supports MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and WMV9 out of the box, and of course there are apps in the Android Market which will broaden that codec support. The kickstand props the phone up at a comfortable angle (ironically it would also be the ideal angle for hands-free video calls) and there’s Bluetooth A2DP support for wireless stereo headphones. Streaming audio and video should have no issues with the LTE speed on offer.

Performance and 4G LTE

With a single-core processor, the ThunderBolt falls short of what rival Android some smartphones are offering. The LG Optimus 2X and Motorola ATRIX 4G both use NVIDIA’s Tegra 2, but HTC’s decision to stick with Qualcomm means the company has been left waiting on the first dual-core Snapdragon chipset. That leaves the Verizon phone putting in an average showing compared to flagship rivals.

It’s not slow, but neither does it offer the lightning fast responsiveness of the ATRIX. Quadrant Advance (benchmark test) brought in a score of 2036, but there’s some noticeable lag at times when moving through heavier apps, and dual-core optimized games like Dungeon Defender run but without the crisp graphics and performance we’ve seen on Tegra 2 based handsets.

Happily LTE performance is a different matter. The Android Speedtest app suggested an unlikely 7.2 Mbps download and 27.59 Mbps upload score, so we turned instead to the ThunderBolt’s Mobile Hotspot feature.

That allows you to share the smartphone’s 3G/4G connection with up to eight WiFi-tethered devices (or, alternatively, opt for a USB connection with a single device); it’s bundled in the $29.99 per month LTE data package until May 15, after which it will be $20 per 2GB per month. With a single WiFi connection, using the Speedtest.net app on our test notebook, we saw 17.92 Mbps downloads and 3.27 Mbps uploads. With two WiFi connections active, we saw 18.73 Mbps downloads and 4.39 Mbps uploads.

In comparison to the LG VL600 LTE modem we reviewed back in December, that’s a faster download speed (in the same Phoenix, AZ, location) but a slower upload speed (we saw 6.73 Mbps uploads). Nonetheless, it was enough to upload a 13 minute long video to Qik in under a minute. Apps download from the Android Market almost instantaneously. It certainly blows away AT&T’s HSPA+ service and Sprint’s WiMAX.

Real life usage, LTE upload speed consistently got 2.5+ times faster COX internet cable.  So a 336MB file would normally take 19-minutes takes a little over 7-minutes to upload!

Battery and Calls

Unsurprisingly, heavy LTE use takes its toll on the ThunderBolt’s 1,400 mAh battery, and in fact even moderate LTE access can see the HTC’s gauge take a tumble. From a full battery, after 2 hours 45 minutes of active LTE use (3 hours 34 minutes of uptime) – downloading apps, data activities like email and Twitter, but no YouTube, calls or general video playback – the ThunderBolt was down to just 8-percent.

With more general use, and with WiFi turned on, things are a little better. Verizon suggests users will get 378 minutes active use from the ThunderBolt or 330 hours of standby; in reality, with push email turned on and a mixture of browsing, messaging, a few brief calls and a little camera use, we saw 182 minutes of usage before the indicator turned red.

As a phone, the ThunderBolt is pretty much on a par with other recent HTC devices on Verizon’s network. Audio quality is decent, and the speakerphone is loud and clear. As was the case during video playback, we didn’t notice any difference in sound quality whether the kickstand was open or closed.

Wrap-Up

The HTC ThunderBolt is undoubtedly the fastest smartphone we’ve tested when it comes to mobile data. Verizon’s LTE network is, in areas with coverage, the most impressive 4G system currently available in the US, in many cases exceeding what our regular broadband connections could manage. Things may well change as more users get online, of course; so far only USB modem owners have been enjoying the LTE speeds, but as ThunderBolt adoption picks up and Verizon pushes more 4G-capable handsets out onto the market, we’re expecting to see the network settle at lower rates.

Even with that, though, the strong performance from the off leaves plenty of headroom, and right now if bandwidth is your primary concern then the ThunderBolt is the smartphone to pick. Be warned, however: it’s nowhere near a fully rounded experience yet. The absence of video chat software is a significant blip, especially when HTC announced its own app at MWC 2011 last month and when Verizon has an existing deal with Skype, but the biggest drawback is battery life.

In short, the ThunderBolt’s battery simply hasn’t the stamina to match its data ambitions. Being able to share the LTE connection with eight other devices is admirable, but when that also sucks your smartphone dry in under three hours it’s a significant compromise. Even with more casual use, the ThunderBolt’s heady rush of data runs the risk of draining the handset well before the workday is through.

Therein lies the compromise of the early adopter, and it’s a big one. If the ThunderBolt had a more modern dual-core processor and the right apps to take advantage of its hardware, it would go a long way to sweetening the deal. With dual-core HTC devices on the horizon, however, and no sign of official video chat support, the ThunderBolt’s sub-par performance is tougher to swallow. Speed-addicts will find the Verizon ThunderBolt goes further than any smartphone before it, but this HTC isn’t the handset to bring LTE to the mass market.  If there’s anything we might have missed, feel free to drop a us a comment and we’ll do our best for a rapid response.

HTC ThunderBolt Unboxing and Hands-on

HTC ThunderBolt FastBoot demo

The Danish site lists the item as not yet available but with no further information on date of availability and price. Titled “HTC INCREDIBLE S – RED”, there’s definitely no mistaking it for any other device. It looks pretty much identical to the black Incredible S, but with the entire back and trim in a deep red.

The Incredible S features a four-inch 480×800 Super LCD display, 8MP camera, HD video, 1GHz Qualcomm processor, 768MB RAM, HTC Sense on top of Android 2.2, 3G, WiFi, and GPS. The device will likely hit the US as the Droid Incredible 2 but we’ll probably not see it in red anytime soon state side.

[via Android Community]

As a phone, the Thunderbolt is generally pretty similar to HTC’s other recent big-touchscreen handsets. With a 4.3-inch display and a new single-core 1GHz Snapdragon processor (MSM8655, Qualcomm MDM9600), it’s a direct relative of the EVO 4G (Qualcomm QSD8650) (with Sprint WiMAX), Inspire 4G (with AT&T HSPA+) and the Desire HD in Europe (limited to just 3G).

It packs dual cameras – 8-megapixels on the back and 1.3-megapixels on the front – along with 8GB of internal memory, and the whole thing is solid and, despite lacking a dual-core processor, whips neatly through Android 2.2 Froyo. Sun Spider test result came in at 6031.9ms compared to 3,960.8ms Motorola ATRIX 4G (also on Android 2.2) powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 Dual-Core processor. We’d far prefer to have seen Gingerbread installed, but HTC Sense will have to tide you over until an upgrade is ready; Verizon has no public timescale for that to take place.

Unsurprisingly, what we’re most curious about is the Thunderbolt’s 4G performance. Verizon is throwing in a few months of free tethering service – it becomes a $20 a month option for 2GB of mobile hotspot data after May 15 – to get users hooked to LTE, and having tested (and been mightily impressed by) the carrier’s USB modems we wanted to see how the Android phone held up.

Abnormal speed test results via speedtest.net Android app:

So, an impressive turn of speed and a slick slice of hardware. Plenty to like, in other words, but we’ll save all that for the full SlashGear review. Until then, check out our hands-on gallery and unboxing/demo video!

HTC ThunderBolt Unboxing and Hands-on:

HTC ThunderBolt fast boot vs regular boot up speed:

Sample video shot with HTC ThunderBolt in 800 × 480 [not max 720p!]:

Day 2 Battery Test

The first time we tested the battery on this device, it was the very first time we’d powered it up and we decided to go at it full LTE the whole time. The results weren’t the best! (see comment section for results) Now we’ve got the phone out and have been using it in a much more “everyday” fashion, as a mix between LTE and Wifi, and the results are much more favorable.

Take note that we’re photographing the phone here instead of taking screenshots because when we plug the device into the computer to take shots, it resets the “usage time” and we don’t want that!

Inside you’ll find Android 2.2 Froyo, a 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, and a single front-facing VGA webcam with a yet-untold quality to it. Inside on the apps side, you’ll find a Sidekick Media Room that’ll play all the movies and music you want, the Samsung Media Hub for everything you could ever want to download, and a fabulous sounding app called DriveSmart. With the premium version of DriveSmart, you’ll get an automatic (non-premium manually activated) system that, when in your car, sends instant replies to people trying to contact you that say you’re in the car and that you’ll contact them when you’re back out again.

Then there’s a single physical key which you can apply whichever action you like to, this key being called a “jump key,” toting the ability to jump between apps at will, “even during a phone call.” This phone will come in either the color you see above, that being matte black, or a strangely enticing pearl magenta. Will this be the world’s new entry ticket into the world of Android? Sure, why not?

Check out the full press release below:

T-Mobile Sidekick Is Reborn

New Sidekick 4G is a Lightning-Fast and Stylish Communication Hub, Delivering Evolved Messaging and Entertainment at 4G Speeds

BELLEVUE, Wash., and DALLAS — March 15, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.,1 today unveiled the new T-Mobile Sidekick® 4GTM by Samsung. The new AndroidTM-powered smartphone pays tribute to its heritage with its stylish good looks and a killer keyboard while redefining messaging and upgrading to 4G speeds. One of T-Mobile’s fastest smartphones running on America’s Largest 4G NetworkTM, the new Sidekick 4G is capable of delivering theoretical peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps.

The T-Mobile Sidekick has long been known for its innovative and distinctive design, and the Sidekick 4G does not disappoint. The 3.5-inch display marks the first Sidekick to feature a touch screen and its sturdy “pop-tilt” hinge reveals the previously acclaimed, five-row QWERTY keyboard that has long been a Sidekick hallmark and the reason behind its status as an exceptional messaging device.

The new Sidekick 4G leverages its quality keyboard along with Sidekick Group TextTM and Cloud TextTM to redefine messaging. Sidekick’s Group Text feature lets customers create, name, manage and participate in reply-all group text conversations, enabling them to lead their network in conversation and social planning. Group Text breathes new life into one of the most popular forms of messaging allowing Sidekick 4G customers to initiate and share the benefit of the application with SMS-capable devices from flip phones to smartphones. In addition, Cloud Text provides the option to text with friends or groups across platforms, whether from the comfort of their PC’s large screen and keyboard, or from their new Sidekick 4G.

“Backed by the faster speeds on T-Mobile’s 4G network, the new Sidekick 4G offers customers both speed and style,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “We’ve reinvented the messaging experience that made the Sidekick such an iconic device, and supercharged it with communication and entertainment experiences that take full advantage of our 4G network.”

Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile, said, “We are proud that T-Mobile selected Samsung to help create the next-generation Sidekick and carry the iconic Sidekick brand and device to the next level. Samsung redesigned the new Sidekick 4G with our best-in-class hardware, combined with T-Mobile’s 4G network speeds, the Android operating system, and unique messaging and entertainment features, to make this a perfect match for both loyal Sidekick fans and new Sidekick owners.”The new Sidekick 4G also comes preloaded with Facebook® and TwitterTM applications, and provides easy interaction with customers’ social networks by allowing them to update their status from the notification pane and browse their feeds from the home screen. They have the ability to sync their social network contacts to the phone’s address book, which lets them post to their friends’ walls or comment on their status. And multitasking is easier than ever with the Sidekick 4G’s jump key, an easy-to-access physical button that enables customers to quickly switch between active applications, even during a phone call, or assign keyboard shortcuts to their favorite functions or applications.

In addition to a communication hub, the new Sidekick 4G is now an entertainment hub. With speeds as fast as home broadband, enjoying a favorite TV show or surfing the Web on the go is a breeze. Sidekick’s Media Room features one place to enjoy music, videos, movies, YouTube®, T-Mobile TV® and Slacker Radio, and to search for content regardless of the source. The integrated media player, also accessible through the Media Room, spans across all media including music, video and Internet radio. Customers also have the option to rent or purchase their favorite movies and TV programs directly from the Samsung Media Hub, which offers a robust collection of movie and next-day TV show titles from CBS, Fox, MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. Customers now have the option to place Media Hub charges directly to their monthly T-Mobile service bill.

Complementing the messaging communication features, the new Sidekick 4G is equipped with a VGA front-facing camera and pre-installed T-Mobile Video Chat powered by QikTM, to ensure you are always present with your social circle. Powered by Android 2.2 (Froyo) and a speedy 1 GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, so consumers can keep up with their favorite blogs while on the move, search for the must-try dinner spots and map the way to their next destination — all at blazing fast speeds. The new smartphone will also offer dynamic media features and integrated GoogleTM services, including GmailTM, Google MapsTM and access to thousands of applications on Android MarketTM.

The new Sidekick 4G also comes equipped with DriveSmartTM from T-Mobile, a first-of-its kind service from a U.S. carrier, that helps prevent distracted driving. When initiated, DriveSmart Basic provides automatic incoming call and message management, sending a customizable note to callers and senders, letting them know that the recipient is driving and will respond when it’s safe. DriveSmart Plus offers the same functionality, with the added capability to automatically activate when the handset is in a moving vehicle, as well as advanced parental controls for enhanced peace of mind when teen drivers are behind the wheel.

Offered exclusively to T-Mobile customers, the new T-Mobile Sidekick 4G is expected to be available later this spring in two stylish colors — matte black or pearl magenta. Customers can visit http://sidekick.t-mobile.com/ for more information.
## #

1 No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics Q4 2010 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Report.

T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network not available everywhere; see coverage details at T-Mobile.com. 4G used in connection with the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G product name refers to the fact that the new Sidekick 4G is designed with HSPA+ 4G technology (“4G”).

Have you give Instant Previews a try yet? Do you like it? Any tweaks you think it needs?

[via Google Mobile Blog]

The Froyo update has messed up data connectivity and impaired accessing media stored the SD card. The only solution right now is to have Epic 4G owners do a hard reset on their phone, effectively wiping out all the data. Samsung and Sprint are working together to resolve the issue, but a timetable hasn’t been given on when the fix will come.

This is a big setback considering Epic 4G owners have been running Android 2.1 since last August and Android 2.3 is already on the prowl. The Android 2.2 update comes with support for apps on the SD card, updates voice commands for Bluetooth dialing, and updates for many of the apps and widgets.

[via Electronista]

This is one big fat beautiful phone with what they’re calling an “Inside-Out design that we’re torn on the feel of. Inside, this phone will include Android 2.2 at launch, but will have an upgrade to the 2.4 version of Gingerbread “early on.” On the back you’ll see there’s a big fat 8-megapixel camera with autofocus, and there’s a 1.3-megapixel webcam up front. There’s 1.1-GB of internal storage, 768MB of RAM and a microSD memory card slot.

This is the sort of phone you want if you want a gigantic entertainment machine. It’ll be covered with HTC Sense, an overlay most people with skills in developing end up pushing aside for a greater ROM, but the insides are going to be just fine for playing of games and the clicking of high quality photos. Have a look at the photos we took of this phone whilst at Mobile World Congress 2011 as well as our lovely hands-on video with some lovely music instead of the loud clamor of voices all around us.

Hardware

It’s tough to pick holes in the ATRIX 4G’s spec sheet; Motorola has put together a solid list of hardware that pushes several of the limits we’ve seen on recent Android devices. Build quality is solid plastic with a fair amount of heft in the hand: it’s a dense handset, at 63.5 x 117.75 x 10.95 mm and 135g, and feels reassuringly free of creaks and flex. There’s something about the fascia that reminds us of the HTC Touch HD, discrete and sober.

Under the Gorilla Glass sits one of the ATRIX 4G’s key selling points, a 4-inch qHD capacitive touchscreen. Running at 960 x 540 it’s a welcome step up from the WVGA 800 x 480 that has become the de-facto standard for Android handsets over the past twelve months or so. That adds up to a pixel density of 275ppi, short of the iPhone 4′s Retina Display, but still noticeably crisper than most other rivals. Viewing angles are broad, colors are accurate and – as long as you’re not in direct sunlight – there are few problems with brightness. Underneath are the usual touch-sensitive Android controls, for menu, home, back and search, while above there’s a VGA-resolution webcam for video calls, along with brightness and proximity sensors.

On the left edge there’s the microUSB and HDMI connectors, while the volume controls are – somewhat unusually, but still perfectly usable – on the right.

On the angled top edge there’s the 3.5mm headphone port and a power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner.

We rarely had any issues using this, unlocking the ATRIX 4G with a quick swipe; on a few occasions it took a second pass, but generally the fingerprint system is easier than the usual Android lock screen. Happily there’s a passcode backup should you persistently encounter issues, or need to give someone else access. A speaker sits on the bottom edge, while the 5-megapixel camera with a dual-LED flash is on the distinctively patterned back.

Inside, the dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 takes price of place, a set of two 1GHz cores paired with a healthy 1GB of DDR2 RAM and 16GB of integrated storage.

There’s a microSD card slot for a further 32GB, and given the ATRIX 4G will shoot 720p HD video and – with its Entertainment Center – is aiming to handle your A/V requirements, that storage potential is very welcome. Connectivity includes triband HSPA+ (as per AT&T’s 4G branding) and quadband GSM/EDGE, along with WiFi b/g/n with support for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and the microUSB/HDMI ports. GPS, a digital compass and an accelerometer round things out.

It all adds up to one of the fastest Android handsets we’ve used to-date, blazing through webpage rendering and pinch-zooming, loading apps with barely any delay, sending Google Maps whipping across the screen and helping squeeze out some of the frustrating pauses that still leave some Android users looking enviously at the iPhone 4.

Motorola offers both the Laptop Dock and the HD Dock, along with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse set, which we’ll cover later on in the review.

Software

Motorola’s choice of Android 2.2 Froyo is the first disappointment of the ATRIX 4G’s software experience, leaving Google’s Nexus S as the only Gingerbread smartphone currently on the market. On top, there’s the latest iteration of MOTOBLUR, less intrusive than in its early generations, but still an acquired taste (and a potential cause of delay to future Android OS updates) with its social networking integration, modified UI and resizable homescreen widgets.

AT&T introduces its own modifications and software, including the same limitation on sideloading apps (i.e. installing them from a direct download or memory card, rather than from the official Android Market) that we’ve seen on other Android handsets from the carrier. There are workarounds online, which can address that, and it does introduce a degree of protection from potentially malware-infected apps, but the sort of power users, which will be drawn to the ATRIX 4G, might not really need the carrier’s over-protection.

As for AT&T software, there’s the carrier’s Code Scanner, Family Map, Navigator, YP Mobile and My AT&T apps already installed, along with Motorola-bundled copies of Quick Office 3.0, Vlingo Voice, Blockbuster, Need for Speed and MobiTV. That’s on top of the usual suite of Google apps (Gmail in particular looks brilliant on the qHD display, with the Tegra 2 CPU slicing through any inbox delays we’ve encountered on other Android devices). Some apps can be deleted while others are fixed, though of course a custom ROM would take care of that (and the horsepower of the ATRIX 4G is already drawing plenty of attention from the homebrew Android community) if Motorola hadn’t locked that down as well. Of course, modders have already addressed that with an (unreleased) rooting method, but it’s another degree of frustration that belies Android’s generally open, mod-friendly nature.

The useful additions we’ve come to expect from smartphones, like a mobile hotspot app, are present and work fine, with the ATRIX 4G able to share its HSPA+ connection with up to five WiFi-enabled clients. There’s also DLNA support, for wirelessly streaming content to a compatible display or audio player, though Motorola really expects users to use its HDMI output or HD Dock.

Camera and Multimedia

We’ve criticized Motorola’s cameras in the past, and the ATRIX 4G is another middle-of-the-road effort from the company. At 5-megapixels – with autofocus and a dual-LED flash that doubles as a video light – it’s not the highest resolution on a recent smartphone, though there’s undoubtedly more to mobile photography than sheer pixel count.

Still images are clean but uninspiring, with reasonable contrast and sharpness outdoors but a little too much noise for our liking indoors. We’ve had better luck from recent Samsungs. Color balance could be more accurate, too, though at least the camera boots quickly – even without a dedicated hardware button – and the ATRIX 4G processes and saves shots with the minimum of delay.

Video, meanwhile, is currently limited to 720p HD, rather than the 1080p HD the Tegra 2 is capable of. That will apparently be unlocked – for recording and playback – in a later firmware update, though Motorola is yet to commit to an exact release date. As it stands, though, video is more successful than stills in many cases, with plenty of detail, swift responsiveness to changes in lighting, and smooth recording despite the lack of any optical stability systems.

The qHD display is obviously great for showing off photos and video, but since the ATRIX 4G packs an HDMI output it’s also easy to hook up a nearby HDTV for direct playback. Plugged in – with the bundled mini HDMI to HDMI cable – the smartphone boots into a dedicated Entertainment Center interface, with a big-screen friendly UI for photos, video and audio playback. The ATRIX 4G itself shows a remote control for navigating, and the phone supports AAC, H.264, MP3, MPEG-4, WMA9, eAAC+, AMR NB and AAC+ formats with video playback at up to 30fps. With the 1080p update this will be even more useful, but 720p looked good nonetheless.

Phone and Battery

Motorola’s noise reduction system is in evidence on the ATRIX 4G, and it helps the Android smartphone put in a solid showing when it comes to voice call quality. Audio on both ends of the call is clear and crisp, and the speakerphone is suitably loud.

Data, unfortunately, hasn’t faired so well. The Motorola may promise 4G speeds, but performance felt more in line with regular 3G devices than other HSPA+ handsets we’ve used. We tested the ATRIX 4G in multiple locations (with HSPA+ coverage indicated) and saw on average download speeds of 1.3 Mbps to 1.6 Mbps, while upload speeds proved ponderous at between 0.12 Mbps and 0.2 Mbps. It’s unclear at this stage whether this is entirely the ATRIX 4G’s fault, the fledgling AT&T HSPA+ network, or – most likely, perhaps – a combination of the two, but the end result is that rival 4G networks deliver better raw performance if data speeds are your primary concern.

The 1,930 mAh battery Motorola supply is a considerable step up from the sort of power packs we’ve seen on other high-end devices of late, and the company expects it to push the ATRIX 4G on to up to 540 minutes of talktime or up to 400 hours of standby. In practice, with push-email turned on and the usual mixture of daily use – Google Maps, Internet browsing, some music and video playback – we’ve seen well over 13 hours of runtime from the ATRIX 4G. Yes, you’ll be charging it nightly, but that’s par for the course for a modern smartphone.

Laptop Dock

A fair amount of the excitement around the ATRIX 4G isn’t so much the handset itself, but the accessories Motorola is offering. Flagship of these is the Motorola Laptop Dock, an 11.6-inch ultraportable notebook-style clamshell with a full keyboard, trackpad and integrated battery. Alone it has no intelligence; instead, you have to dock the ATRIX 4G into a flip-up cradle at the back, upon which the Laptop Dock boots into Motorola’s Webtop system.

The Laptop Dock hardware is certainly solid, made of brushed black metal and plastic, and with strongly-sprung keys. Despite the broad width they keys themselves are a little smaller than what we’re used to from, say, the MacBook Air, and general feel is slightly less impressive than a regular notebook. The trackpad is large – though the button bar is far too stiff for our liking – but the absence of multitouch support for two-finger scrolling and other gestures is frustrating.

As for the display, that’s a 1366 x 768 panel and is bright and reasonably clear. The Webtop system is a custom Linux build, with an OS X style dock of apps – including a full version of Firefox – along the bottom of the screen and a windowed version of the ATRIX 4G’s display floating on the left.

You can boot into the Entertainment Center – more of which in the HD Dock section – or, more likely, the browser (there are shortcuts for AT&T, Facebook and Motorola, but they simply open the relevant pages in Firefox), and both the phone view and browser view can be maximized to full-screen (though the phone image is merely magnified, not upscaled, so gets relatively pixelated in the process).

Motorola is particularly proud of the full build of Firefox installed, though the actual user experience is a mixed bag. You can certainly load up Google Docs, stream content, view YouTube and Hulu, and other full webpages in various tabs, but the Tegra 2 processor falls short of the slick experience we’d hoped for. There’s noticeable sluggishness, whether you’re opening Firefox, flicking between tabs, playing Full HD content or even just working with Google Docs documents.

Still, you can handle calls and messages while the ATRIX 4G is docked, and the integrated battery – which Motorola reckons will keep the Laptop Dock running for up to 6 hours of video playback or 8-10 hours of web browsing – recharges the smartphone as you work. Hopefully some further software optimization will give Webtop a speed boost in the coming months, since right now it’s an expensive and limited alternative to a netbook.

HD Dock

Motorola’s desktop dock is a halfway house of sorts between the Laptop Dock and the basic HDMI connection the ATRIX 4G itself offers, including not only an HDMI output but three USB ports for hooking up peripherals and a 3.5mm stereo audio output. They could include a wired keyboard and mouse, though Motorola also sent us its Bluetooth keyboard/mouse set.

What you do get over and above using the onboard HDMI, however, is access to the Webtop UI, turning your ATRIX 4G and HDTV into a desktop PC. The Entertainment Center UI can be controlled by the bundled infrared remote, which is a physical version of the on-screen controller shown when you use a direct HDMI connection.

The Bluetooth keyboard and mouse work as you’d expect, pairing with the ATRIX 4G and allowing for easy navigation and text entry. The keyboard has several Android app shortcut buttons, and the chiclet keys are easier to use than the Laptop Dock’s keys.

Price and Value

The Motorola ATRIX 4G is priced in line with most other high-end smartphones, at $199.99 with a new, two-year AT&T agreement. Both voice and data plans are mandatory, but if you want to use the tethering feature then you’ll need to step up to the most expensive data package (the cheaper plans only offer on-device data) at $45 per month. With the cheapest voice plan that means you’re looking at a minimum of $84.99 per month.

Where it gets really expensive is when you take into account the accessories. The Motorola HD Dock is $129.99, while the Bluetooth keyboard alone is $69.99; AT&T will sell you an “Entertainment Center/Webtop Access Kit” including both, plus the Bluetooth mouse, for $189.99. As for the Laptop Dock, that’s $299.99 after $200 of rebates (mail-in and instant), though you’ll need to have the tethering data plan to qualify. Alone, the Laptop Dock is a hefty $499.99, which might not get you a MacBook Air but does cover quite a few netbook and notebook options (all of which are functional without a phone docked into them).

Wrap-Up

If there’s one thing the Motorola ATRIX 4G shows, it’s that there’s no shortage of innovation in the smartphone market. The Laptop Dock may be expensive – and Palm may have previewed the idea with the Folio, and Redfly even attempted to commercialize it with the Celio – but Motorola deserves some kudos for bringing it to market and to a major carrier. There’s certainly no shortage of geek appeal, and the HD Desktop Dock is similarly useful, but right now the Webtop interface falls short of what a simple, WiFi-tethered netbook would deliver. The HD Desktop Dock is good, but its core abilities are readily served with a far cheaper HDMI cable. Early adopters can probably justify one or both, but mainstream users will likely want to wait for Motorola’s engineers to finesse the experience.

Mediocre 4G data speeds aside, meanwhile, the ATRIX itself is a solid, very usable smartphone lifted from among the Android crowds by its lightning fast performance and pixel-rich display. The combination of Tegra 2 and qHD resolution add up to one of the best Android experiences to-date. Rivals will soon begin snapping at the ATRIX 4G’s heels, but in terms of as much future-proofing as you can lock-in over the course of a two-year agreement, today the Motorola offers the best starting point.

ATRIX 4G unboxing and hands-on

Updating to Android 2.2 Froyo for the Samsung Epic 4G will mean increased speed, improved Bluetooth device support, Bluetooth voice dialing, Flash Player 10.1, GPS enhancements, and the ability to install applications to external storage. Once your device has been queued by Sprint, you will receive a message on your device letting you know the update is available. If you attempt to check manually before your device is queued, you will receive a “no upgrade available” message.

The Sanyo Zio will also receive the Android 2.2 Froyo update on February 21st. Improvements here will include the addition of Swype, Sprint Zone 2.5.5, Sprint ID activation improvements, and better battery life. However, Flash 10.1 may not be supported and the update will come as three separate downloads best received via a Wi-Fi connection.

[via IntoMobile]

This call was a live, IMS-based VoLTE call was made by Balaji Raghavachari, manager of technology for Verizon Wireless, and it was received by Sanyogita Shamsunder, also working for Verizon as director of technology. This call was not the first call EVER to work over LTE

This wasn’t the first EVER call over LTE, in fact the initiative to make this process work was launched about a year ago by GSMA, a group who successfully made a VoLTE call sometime between then and now. All phones involved in this process have been running Android 2.2 Froyo because speed love yogurt. Take a peek at the full press release below:

VERIZON WIRELESS ANNOUNCES WORLD’S FIRST SUCCESSFUL VOICE OVER LTE CALL ON A COMMERCIAL LTE NETWORK

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Chief Technology Officer Tony Melone has confirmed that the company’s technologists placed a live, IMS-based VoLTE (Voice over LTE) call over its commercial network on Wednesday morning. This takes VoLTE calling from a lab environment to a commercial network for the first time anywhere on the globe.

The initial call was placed at 9:54 a.m. ET Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 by Balaji Raghavachari, manager of technology for Verizon Wireless, using a LG Revolution 4G smartphone. The call originated at Verizon headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J. and was received by Sanyogita Shamsunder, director of technology for Verizon Wireless, who was also on a LG Revolution 4G smartphone in Basking Ridge. The initial call was 33 seconds in duration. During additional calls made that morning, the technologists were able to browse the Web and use other data services while participating in voice calls.

Melone said, “Today is another proof point that the LTE ecosystem is alive, healthy and thriving. VoLTE will quickly become the global standard for delivering voice over LTE networks.”

“The GSMA launched a voice over LTE initiative a year ago with the aim of driving a single, industry-wide solution for voice and messaging services via IP,” said Alex Sinclair, chief technology officer at the GSMA. “We commend Verizon Wireless for helping to make this a reality by conducting the world’s first voice call over a commercial LTE network. The progress made by the GSMA, its members, and in particular Verizon Wireless, to enable this functionality will play a crucial role in driving strong momentum and vast economies of scale for LTE all over the world.”

Subsequent test calls lasted more than 10 minutes. Technologists browsed the Web, participated in chats and downloaded applications from the Android Market™ while on a voice call. The LG Revolution smartphones were running on the Android 2.2 platform.

Verizon Wireless plans to enhance VoLTE with rich communications services and optimize performance on its commercial 4G LTE network during 2011. Commercial services are expected to be available in 2012.

This is the support page that explains how to find your operating system and firmware versions. Does this mean an upgrade is on the way? Or is this just a tease for long-suffering Samsung customers?

We can only hope to find out soon. It’s probably not wise to read too much into it.

[via BGR]

In terms of hardware, bar the double displays the Echo isn’t particularly unusual, or even outstanding given its soon-to-be flagship status among Sprint’s line-up. There’s 3G but no WiMAX 4G, a mere 5-megapixel camera (with 720p HD video recording) and a 1GHz single-core Snapdragon processor keeping things moving. Each capacitive touchscreen runs at 800 x 480 resolution; side-by-side you have a 4.7-inch display running at 800 x 960, though obviously with a gap down the middle.

Build quality feels solid, and the hinge is a particularly interesting – and reassuringlysturdy – piece of work. Kyocera has apparently gone patent-wild on its various features, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the system show up in future devices. The touchscreens are responsive though don’t – currently – support pinch-zoom multitouch.

Sprint Kyocera ECHO hands-on

Since Android doesn’t support dual-displays natively, Kyocera had to do some work to get the OS up to speed. Seven of the native Android apps have been modified to work in dual-display mode, allowing you to have, say, the browser open on the top screen and your email on the bottom. While you might expect that to slow down the 1GHz CPU, the Echo’s multitasking system actually flips between the apps – in effect hibernating the one you’re not using at any one moment – so that the end result is reasonably smooth. Tapping both displays simultaneously calls up the task manager.

Unfortunately, third-party apps will have to wait until Sprint and Kyocera release the dual-display SDK before they can use the two panels to the full; until then, apps will merely run maximized across both screens. Still, it’s useful to be able to have a full-smartphone’s worth of display on show while still having an on-screen keyboard to use.

It’s difficult to imagine the exact target audience for the Sprint Kyocera Echo. Power users will inevitably run into issues around battery life; neither carrier nor manufacturer are talking numbers yet, but the fact that a second battery (with a standalone charging dock) will be bundled in the retail pack doesn’t bode well. Since the display is normally the biggest power drain, two panels likely means near to half the runtime of a regular handset. This isn’t a slimline handset to slip into a pocket or purse, either, and with the second battery the whole arrangement is bulky.

Nonetheless, as with the interesting-but-flawed Libretto W100, there’s something about twin touchscreens on a device that makes it inescapably appealing. Those geeks drawn in will likely find the $199 retail price to their taste as well, though that will have to be weighed against patchy dual-display functionality, battery limitations and the absence of 4G. We’re not convinced the Kyocera Echo was worth Sprint’s launch hype, but it’s certainly got us curious.

Also take special note of the fact that this phone’s stocked with Inception. Certainly an odd play by Samsung, but possibly leading again to the idea that more media (movies and music) will be finding their way onto phones in the future — will today mark the day when all Androids become iPods? We’ll see. Take a peek at the full press release below and stay tuned for additional details!

Galaxy S 4G from T-Mobile to Offer Blazing-Fast Speeds and Unparalleled Entertainment Experience Featuring Movies, TV and Video Chat 

T-Mobile expands America’s Largest 4G Network to eight new
metropolitan areas in South and Midwest
 
BELLEVUE, Wash., and DALLAS — Feb. 2, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. 1, today announced the anticipated February availability of the Galaxy S™ 4G, exclusively from T-Mobile. According to T-Mobile, the Galaxy S 4G will be the fastest smartphone running on America’s Largest 4G Network™2. The Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile’s first smartphone capable of delivering theoretical peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps, offers enhanced mobile experiences and unparalleled entertainment including mobile HD TV3 through T-Mobile TV, the ACADEMY AWARD® Nominated film INCEPTION, and T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik™ — delivered at 4G speeds on its 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen display.
 
T-Mobile also announced the expansion of America’s largest 4G network into more than 100 major metropolitan areas, reaching more than 200 million people nationwide. In addition to expanding its 4G footprint, T-Mobile also has aggressive plans to double the speed of its 4G network in 2011, and the company expects that 140 million Americans in 25 major metropolitan areas will have access to these increased 4G speeds by midyear.
 
“The Galaxy S 4G pushes the envelope by reaping the benefits of our network’s unprecedented speeds and by offering groundbreaking entertainment experiences,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “We are excited to continue to expand our portfolio of 4G devices that enable our customers to have access to unique and compelling features and an optimal 4G experience.”
 
“The Galaxy S 4G offers customers Samsung’s core premium product investments to speed, screen and content,” said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer, Samsung Mobile. “Galaxy S 4G is T-Mobile’s fastest smartphone and offers Samsung’s brilliant Super AMOLED display and rich multimedia features for premium movie and TV content.”
 
Through the delivery of faster speeds comes an enhanced experience when viewing video entertainment over the Web using services such as YouTube. In addition T-Mobile TV, a preloaded application, offers consumers access to live and on-demand mobile HD TV on T-Mobile’s 4G network, including free programming from select stations like ABC News NOW, FOX Sports, PBS Kids and Azteca America. 
 
To further enhance the entertainment package on the Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile has preloaded, at no additional cost to consumers, Warner Bros. Pictures’ ACADEMY AWARD® Nominated film INCEPTION which is nominated for Best Picture, Best Writing (Original Screenplay), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Music (Original Score), Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.  Customers also have the option to rent or purchase their favorite movies and TV programs directly from the Samsung Media Hub, which features a robust collection of new releases and TV shows.
 
The Galaxy S 4G’s blazing-fast speeds will make sharing memories via e-mail, social networks or video quick and easy. For example, the preloaded T-Mobile Video Chat application powered by Qik enables customers to share any moment with loved ones virtually whenever and wherever they want through T-Mobile’s network or Wi-Fi. Using either the front-facing or the rear camera, which features a 720p HD camcorder, paired with Video Chat allows customers to hold video conversations with friends and family who have a compatible mobile device.
 
Featured as a pre-installed application, doubleTwist® with AirSync™ provides customers with a useful and easy way to auto-sync and back up photos, HD videos and music to and from their home computer. With a Wi-Fi connection, customers can easily sync their media wirelessly and at no additional cost. The doubleTwist Player lets customers enjoy their favorite tunes and videos directly from their phone while on the go. The Galaxy S 4G also comes preloaded with Slacker Radio, offering music fans more than 130 genre stations and ability to create their own custom stations for free.
 
With a slim and sleek design, the Galaxy S 4G’s 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen display gives customers a vivid, sharp viewing experience, whether consumers choose to watch a movie or read a book or newspaper with the preloaded Kindle for Android application while on the go. Powered by Android™ 2.2, the Galaxy S 4G is equipped with a speedy Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor, an ST-Ericsson M5720 HSPA+ 4G modem to enable theoretical peak downloads of up to 21 Mbps, a 5 megapixel camera, a pre-installed 16GB microSD memory card, and a 1650 mAh lithium ion battery.
 
Availability
The Galaxy S 4G is expected to be available to T-Mobile customers in February. Customers can visit http://galaxy-s.t-mobile.com/4G for more information.
 
Beginning today, T-Mobile’s network will also be delivering 4G speeds to Albany, Augusta, Columbus and Macon, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn., in the South region as well as in Champaign, Ill.; Lansing, Mich.; and Rochester, Minn., in the Midwest.

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It is the story of Rambler (aka Rambler358) that sparked this whole conversation, his thread covering the receiving of the Adam tablet all the way to his current predicament: waiting for Notion Ink to respond to his several attempts at getting a full refund, frustrated because they’ve provided him little to no help in the issues he sought to fix: a physically broken camera, a blotchy screen, and broken links to help files throughout the system. Check out a lengthened and more detailed account of this situation over on Android Community

Then we’ve got to ask – does it seem normal to you that this tablet has seen so much good press leading up to its release, followed by so much bad press after its pre-release has been sent out? Or do you think that most devices have these sorts of problems, and its just the fact that Notion Ink has been so seemingly open about their process that the bad press seems so surprising and newsworthy?

[Via Android Community]

The Disney phone packs a 3.8 inch screen with some sort of 3D capability, a 9.6-megapixel camera, possibly TV tuner, and an app that puts the popular sticker booth in your hand as it lets you add bows and cat whiskers onto your own original photos.

The phone has plenty of Disney exclusive features such as live wallpapers that change depending on your time zone, Disney emoticons to impress your friends, and seven different Disney designs: Disney castle, Minnie Mouse plant print, Minnie Mouse polka dot, Star white, and mouse-patterns in pink, white, and gold.  The phone is only available in Japan and is not planned for a US release.

[Via Android Community]

Both tablets will be running Android 2.2 (Froyo) if 3.0 (Honeycomb) is not applicaple during their release March and April this year. Both will feature a Cortex A8 1Ghz processor and carry both 3MP rear end and 1.3MP front facing cameras. The images taken from these cameras can be edited and shared straight from the devices themselves. An HDMI port will also be included for streaming to your HDMI capable televisions.

Press Release:

“viliv X7 Android Tablet”, “viliv X10 Android Tablet” and “viliv X70 Windows 7 Slate” Introduced at CES

Substantializing the Leadership of Anywhere Internet Connectivity Longest battery life among existing Android devices.

Las Vegas, US, January 6th, 2011 – A leading Tablet PC manufacturer, viliv (Yukyung Technologies Corporation) today announced two new lineups, the Android Tablet X7 and X10. The tablets are powered by Android 2.2 / 3.0(TBD), with a Cortex A8 1GHz CPU and Power VR SGX 540 GPU chipset. The X7 and X10 are expected to be launched worldwide in March 2011 and April 2011 respectively.

The viliv X7 and X10 allow users to experience true anywhere connectivity with options for 3G HSPA, EVDO, or WIMAX. The new X7 and X10 lineup also feature a best in class battery life, the highest of any current or soon to be released Android devices, continuing to demonstrate viliv’s dedication to creating powerful mobile devices that are truly connected and allow for a full day of productivity.

With support for full HD playback, the viliv X Series Tablets brings consumers a realistic multimedia experience when watching movies, playing games or viewing pictures. Storage can be expanded via the integrated micro-SD card slot (supports SDHC up to 32GB) to provide even more space to store your media. The integrated HDMI-out port even allows you to share them all with friends and family when connected to an HDTV.

With a lightweight design to allow for ease of use, the X Series Tablets includes a number of supportive features such as 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, stand-alone GPS, a rear 3MP camera and front 1.3MP camera enable users to communicate with substantial quality. The front camera provides for easy video conferencing, while the rear 3MP camera catches images and produces video with clarity that can be shared and edited.

“We face new information technology everyday and viliv tablets can be a solution provider to make our life easy and simple. This fast-changing environment creates demand and we are able to meet customer’s expectation with our decades-old experience in mobile technology.” said Dr. Seung-Jin Yoo, COO/Executive Vice President, viliv by Yukyung Technologies. “Thanks to our understanding of mobile environments, viliv is able to see the opportunities in the field and its tablets take a unique position in the market. IT environments have been changing so fast and people’s expectations are higher than ever. viliv’s brand-new tablets can satisfy all these high expectations.”

In addition to the X Series Android tablets, viliv also unveiled the X70 Windows 7 Slate, proud that it is the slimmest and lightest Windows 7 based tablet in the world. The X70 Slate is the second version of viliv’s existing model, the X70EX. It features upgraded functionality such as Intel next generation mobile CPU, 2GB memory and a smooth capacitive multi-touch LCD. Its 14.3mm ultra- slim design and 420g (0.926lb) weight enhance its portability.

viliv X7 Android Tablet

Longest battery life powered 7 inch Android

Samsung Cortex A8 1 GHz CPU with Power VR SGX 540
512MB Memory
Android 2.2 / 3.0 (TBD)
7 inch (1024×600) Clear Type LCD, 16M color
Capacitive Multi-Touch
1080p Video Playback
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
3G HSPA or WIMAX or EVDO
Bluetooth
Stand-alone GPS
Rear 3MP Camera / Front 1.3MP Webcam
HDMI l Micro USB l Micro SD/SDHC supporting 32GB
Storage: 8GB (16GB/32GB available)
Accelerometer/Ambient Sensor/Compass
5600 mA/h, 21W, 9.5 hours Operation
398g / 0.877lb,
14.3mm / 0.56inch Depth Design

viliv X70 Windows 7 Slate

Slimmest and Lightest Windows 7 based Tablet in the world

Next-generation Intel CPU
1GB / 2GB Memory
Windows 7 Starter / Home Premium
7 inch 1024 x 600 Clear Type LCD, 16M color
Capacitive Multi-Touch
1080p Video Playback
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth
3G HSPA or WIMAX or EVDO
HDMI l Micro USB l Micro SD/SDHC supporting 32GB
Stand-alone GPS
Storage : Fast 32GB SATA SSD (64GB available)
Read/Write : 100M/70Mbps
Rear 3MP Camera / Front 1.3MP Webcam
Accelerometer/Ambient Sensor
5600 mA/h, 21W, 6.5 hours Operation
420g / 0.926lb

14.3mm / 0.56inch Ultra Slim Design

viliv X10 Android Tablet

Longest battery life powered 10.2 inch Android

Samsung Cortex A8 1 GHz CPU with Power VR SGX 540
512M Memory
Android 2.2 / 3.0 (TBD)
10.2 inch (1024×600), 16M Color, 400 nits, Wide Angle
Capacitive Multi-Touch
1080p Video Playback
Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
3G HSPA or WIMAX or EVDO
Bluetooth
Stand-alone GPS
HDMI l Micro USB l Micro SD/SDHC supporting 32GB
Storage: 8GB (16GB/32GB available)
Rear 3MP Camera / Front 1.3MP Webcam
Accelerometer/Ambient Sensor/Compass
8300 mA/h, 31W, +10 hours Operation
680g / 1.50lb

R3 Media Network

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To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

Hardware

There are compromises involved whichever smartphone design you choose: all-touch candybars have to make do with virtual keyboards; QWERTY sliders or folders have the added bulk of a hinge mechanism, and the DROID PRO loses screen real-estate. At a time when we’re used to seeing 3.7-inch or larger Motorola Android devices, the DROID PRO is a mere 3.1-inches running at HVGA resolution. It takes up the top two thirds of the handset, and while 480 x 320 is a fair step down from the 854 x 480 on other recent Motorolas, when spread over a smaller panel it’s less obvious than you might expect, and decent touch responsiveness goes a long way to making up for the reduced scale. In comparison to the 480 x 360 BlackBerry Torch it’s a narrower screen, though the handset overall is also slimmer than the RIM slider.

On the lower third is a QWERTY keyboard, and it’s here the BlackBerry similarities really kick in. Viewed side-by-side with the Torch, you could well think the ‘boards were from the same company: each has a heavily bowed keycap with pronounced ridges to guide the fingertips, and each is snappy and responsive. The number and symbol layout is different on the Motorola, pushing the number keys to the top row rather than as a block, and there are dedicated @, comma and period buttons which we prefer. Despite the relatively narrow width, this is one of the best hardware keyboards on an Android device at the moment.

In-between the screen and keyboard there’s a row of the usual four touch-sensitive controls: menu, home, back and search. No optical trackpad, however, which is a shame considering it would be well-placed for thumbing. On the top there’s a 3.5mm headphones jack and the power/standby button, while the volume rocker and a microUSB charge/sync port are on the left side. On the right is a user-assignable multifunction key, preset to load the calendar, but easily changed to trigger the camera, media player or whatever app you’d prefer.

On the back is a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash, embedded into a slightly protruding bulge across the top edge. The whole back panel has a translucent, wavy pattern across it, while a band of silver-effect plastic runs around the outer edge of the phone. It’s solid, but we’d prefer more metal in a business device.

Altogether, though, it’s a surprisingly compact device, with press shots proving misleading as to its perceived blockiness. In fact it measures 119 x 61 x 11.7 mm and tips the scales at 134g; longer than the Torch, but otherwise narrower and thinner. It’s also one of Verizon’s so-called Global devices, packing the usual CDMA/EVDO Rev.A connectivity for use in North America, together with quadband GSM/EDGE and triband UMTS/WCDMA for use abroad. There’s also WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, along with GPS, a digital compass, proximity and light sensors. Motorola has used the same 1GHz TI OMAP processor as in the DROID 2, with 2GB of onboard storage and a microSD card slot (Verizon pre-load a 2GB card).

Software

We’re glad to see Android 2.2 Froyo on the DROID PRO, though it’s not a clean install; instead, there’s Motorola’s MOTOBLUR-inspired UI, a halfway house of sorts before the full MOTOBLUR experience which has seemingly been relegated to the company’s entry-level consumer-centric devices. There’s the full gambit of Google apps – Maps, Gmail, the Android Market, etc. – along with Skype Mobile, QuickOffice, a File Manager app, Mediashare and AuthenTec’s VPN client.

There’s also business-friendly functionality, such as encryption and more complex root certificate management, and you can remotely wipe or lock the handset (and the microSD card) with the right server-side software. Password expiration and automatic-wipes are also supported. We’ve no qualms about performance, the 1GHz CPU keeping things moving slickly and pretty much lag-free, though the limited resolution and display size does begin to grind after a while.

Log in with your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networking accounts, and the DROID PRO pulls in recent updates from your contacts and slots them into their respective Contacts app entries. There are also various resizable homescreen widgets, from which you can view updates in one or more of those networks, as well as post status changes of your own. It’s worth noting that this is Motorola’s own system; there are official Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other network apps available in the Android Market, which generally have more functionality but less integration with the overall system.

Browser & Messaging

With Android 2.2 comes Flash Player 10.1 support, and the usual arguments about whether mobile Flash is worth the inevitable browser sluggishness. Suffice to say, we’d rather have the option than not, and it’s possible to turn Flash off altogether or set it to only load on-demand, making everyday browsing lag-free. There’s pinch-zoom and the usual Android extras, but the experience is underwhelming thanks to the smaller screen size.

Messaging, meanwhile, is the usual combination of a Gmail app and then a separate Mail app for everything else. You get Exchange support, together with POP and IMAP, and there’s a decent amount of granularity over which folders synchronize, how labels are handled and whether you view the full contents of your inbox or only certain categories of message. Unfortunately, there’s less flexibility in instant messaging, and while the Torch gets RIM’s popular BlackBerry Messenger service, the DROID PRO makes do with Google Talk. Still, there are various third-party IM options available in the Android Market (in comparison, the BlackBerry App World feels pretty sparsely populated).

Camera & Multimedia

At 5-megapixels, the DROID PRO’s camera isn’t exactly top-end for an Android device, but it comfortably exceeds the 5-megapixels the BlackBerry Torch offers. Motorola has tweaked the standard Android camera app, and though the UI is a little cramped on the smaller display, we’re glad to see the extra functionality. There are eight different scene modes as well as color effects, and of course more basic control over things like the flash. As with all LED flash units, you’re limited to the effective range, but the DROID PRO is certainly brighter than many cameraphones we’ve seen. It’s worth noting that, even if – like we did – you set the hardware shortcut button to trigger the camera, it won’t then also take the photo itself; you still have to use the on-screen button.

Image quality is surprisingly good for a 5-megapixel camera, better than the results we managed from the DROID 2. Decent automatic exposure and good color balance make for strong shots, and though poor lighting forces you to deal with the LED flash’s range sweet-spot, once you’ve got to grips with it we found it more useful than normal.

What you don’t get is 720p HD video recording, though the 720 x 480 30fps clips were smooth and well detailed. There’s no HDMI port for easy connection to an HDTV, and while we can see it being outside of the scope of most business users, the benefits in being able to show presentations or documents direct from the phone seems a missed opportunity.

Phone & Battery

Phone performance was average, though there’s no advanced DSP as we’ve seen on, say, the Motorola DEFY. The speakerphone was solid, and Android’s voice-control functionality is surprisingly flexible for hands-free use (you also get a dedicated voice-input button). Meanwhile mobile hotspot service is supported, sharing the DROID PRO’s 3G connection with up to five WiFi-tethered devices.

Motorola quote up to 390 minutes of talktime from the DROID PRO’s standard 1,420-mAh battery, or 330 hours of standby. With the smaller display requiring less power than some of Motorola’s larger devices of late, we comfortably managed a full day of use with push-email turned on and some calls, messaging and browsing. Nonetheless, RIM’s BlackBerry range still has the edge when it comes to power management.

Wrap-Up

There’s a lot to like about the DROID PRO, not least one of the best keyboards on an Android device today. That Motorola seemingly had to look to RIM’s design in order to achieve that may prompt a few fanboy arguments, but the end result is excellent provision for heavy emailers. Those who spend their time browsing, however, may want to look to other phones, given the cramped display and relatively low resolution on offer. It’s not a deal-breaker, especially if you’re used to the typical BlackBerry screen, but it’s a pain-point if you’ve come from another touchscreen-centric Android handset.

As for Motorola’s business ambitions, the DROID PRO is probably the most enterprise-friendly mainstream phone running Android, but despite the addition of a VPN client and QuickOffice it still falls short of what a well-provisioned BlackBerry offers. That’s undoubtedly down to RIM’s track record in catering for business use, and our expectations of preloaded software; Motorola could do worse than to load either a solid multi-platform IM client or develop one of their own, to take some of the appeal away from BlackBerry Messenger.

This is definitely a device for email and messaging addicts, however, and if you spend more time gaming or browsing on your cellphone, the compact display is unlikely to satisfy. Still, we’d opt for the DROID PRO over the BlackBerry Torch, the more compact phone giving up little when it comes to the keyboard and offering a larger breadth of third-party apps and an OS that feels more intuitive than BlackBerry 6.

Unboxing and hands-on with Droid Pro

If you felt the same way, an unofficial update for the ViewPad 10 has been added to the main Android repository that brings the tablet Android 2.2. The update can be downloaded now, but is a work in progress and needs to be considered a beta offering.

That would mean if things go wrong, don’t go calling ViewSonic for assistance. It’s also worth noting that the porting of Android 2.2 to run on x86 Atom platforms is a good thing for anyone wanting to dual boot Android with Windows on an x86 platform. Let us know what you think if you download the update.

Via Android Community