It’s worthy to point out that this isn’t just any normal smartphone with a discount. The DROID DNA is HTC’s flagship device on Verizon, and such a discount like this either means that the phone is selling poorly (which we highly doubt) or Verizon is making room for a new HTC flagship — a.k.a. the HTC One.

Then again, the sale isn’t lasting that long. The deal ends tomorrow, meaning that most customers will miss it if they blink, so it’s certainly not a sale that Verizon is counting on to lower inventory, but it’s possible that they could just be raising awareness for the new-ish phone, since the DNA is HTC’s latest phone on Verizon, and it’s already quite old.

The HTC One isn’t an exclusive phone by any means, as it’s already available on AT&T and T-Mobile, and HTC usually puts most of their phones on Verizon’s network, so we’re a little surprised not to see the One in Big Red’s lineup, but it could only be a matter of time before that eventually happens, unless HTC has other plans.

However, Verizon is hosting their own little even this week at CTIA, which could be the moment where Verizon will announce the HTC One. Then again, HTC has said that if Verizon and HTC announce One availability, it’ll be a “big deal,” and an event at a relatively small tech conference like CTIA doesn’t really sound like the “big deal” that the two companies were talking about, but we’ll see what the companies have brewing and report back with our findings.

According to Focus Taiwan, HTC’s Chief Marketing Officer Ben Ho said the company will be rolling out the J Butterfly’s successor due to consumer demand for both that particular handset and its market segment in general. The handset will have the Butterfly branding, but its name and the timeline for its release weren’t provided.

It looks like a name change is a possibility, however, with Ho’s phrasing leaving that an option. “We have no plans for the time being to change the name of this series,” he is quoted as saying. The J Butterfly was released as the Droid DNA in the United States, among other places, with only very slight differences, and while Ho only mentioned the J Butterfly, it is possible we’ll see an updated DNA rolled out as well.

As pointed out on Android Community, HTC’s One flagship handset will likely not be arriving at Verizon, and combined with the rumors of a DNA+ that have been surfacing, it is possible the carrier could be releasing a next-generation version of the handset this year. Regardless, we’ll be keeping an eye out for more details as they surface, so stay tuned!

[via Android Community]

According to the LA Times there was a tweet (one you can see below) directing users to a page about the DROID DNA in stead of an HTC One showing on the big red network. Another tweet made just a few minutes ago includes talk of no Verizon release for the HTC One with a bit of a disclaimer – “we’ll let you know” if there’s going to be a release in the future.

We’ve heard ourselves that the Verizon HTC One would be a reality in coming months – our source is one we trust, and we’ve seen another trusted source speaking on the matter as well, saying also that Verizon would carry the device. This release is also being tipped to be odd for Verizon in the way it’ll be conducted: without Verizon changes to the name or the hardware.

Normally when a device such as the HTC J Butterfly heads to Verizon, it’s re-named and re-branded. The Butterfly became the DROID DNA (see our full review). With the HTC One series, Verizon brought fourth the DROID Incredible 4G LTE (see our full review). Here with the HTC One, we’re still confident in our source saying the HTC One will be revealed as the HTC One a short period after the rest of the top four networks in the USA have their releases individually.

Have a peek at the hands-on action we’ve got with the HTC One below and be sure to check our full HTC One review for the full run-down. It’s a winner for sure!

The update slated for release is build 2.04.605.2, and will leave users at 4.1 instead of 4.2 Jelly Bean, sadly. Still, the update will bring with it a slew of bug fixes, as well as some new features and improvements. Hotspot connectivity and the audio quality experienced when using headsets and ear pieces are two such improvements, as well as Bluetooth connectivity and volume level.

Wireless Internet connectivity has also been improved, likely for a more stable connection, though the support page doesn’t specify. The default browser on the device will have improved zooming capabilities, and the Enhanced Recent Apps fuction will also have some tweaks over the current version. The problem with messages showing an incorrect timestamp is also corrected by the update.

Says the support page, Contacts List has also been improved so that it is more stable and reliable. Finally, users will also be able to load Hulu Plus videos after the update, which is in excess of 100MB. Like all updates, you’ll receive a notification when it is available, so keep an eye on your handset, and drop us a line when you see the update roll out.

[via Android Community]

HTC has done the same thing before with the One X, so it wouldn’t be all that shocking to see it do something similar with the DROID DNA. As Droid Life points out, however, this may not have anything to do with the DROID DNA. Instead, it could be Verizon’s version of the rumored (and at least semi-confirmed) HTC M7, considering that it sports similar specs.

According to @LlabTooFeR’s information, this new device will come packing a 4.7-inch screen displaying at 1080p and it will be running a 1.7GHz Qualcomm APQ8064 under the hood. That processor will be accompanied by 2GB of RAM, with the DLXPLUS sporting a 13MP rear-facing camera. We also see that the DLXPLUS will come with 16GB of internal storage, Jelly Bean, Sense 5, and a microSD slot – something the original DROID DNA was famously missing.

Aside from the screen, which has shrunk by 0.3-inches, this would offer a number of improvements over the DROID DNA. On the other hand, these specs are quite similar to what we’ve been hearing about the HTC M7, so it’s possible that these leaked specs confirm the device for Verizon. We’ll just have to wait and see if HTC announces anything in the coming days and weeks, but to be frank about it, the suspense is killing us.

[via Android Community]

NFC is used to pair the HTC Mini with the Butterfly – aka the non-US version of the DROID DNA - after which point it works as a remote terminal. In addition to calls, it can show messages on its monochrome display, calendar entries, and call logs.

However, it will also apparently work as a remote control, useful when the Butterfly is plugged in to your TV and used as a media device. Then, the Mini can navigate through menus when the Butterfly is tethered near to the screen via HDMI; it also looks like it can be used to trigger the shutter in the camera app.

Finally, there’s a handy “find my phone” feature which makes the Butterfly ring when you’ve put it down somewhere and can’t locate it. No word on how much the HTC Mini might cost, though we’re hoping the company releases it as an accessory in markets other than China.

[via Xataka; via MIC Gadget]

Microsoft expanded the resolution support for Windows Phone in its latest iteration, having originally launched the platform with only WVGA catered for. Back in June, however, it confirmed it would be supporting three panel resolutions: 720p (1280 x 720), WXGA (1280 x 768) and the original WVGA (800 x 480).

At the time, that seemed a sensible move to bring parity between Windows Phone and Android, the latter of which had seen several high-end 720p devices launch. However, in the intervening period, HTC itself is among those leading the charge for 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution panels on the larger smartphones, something Windows Phone simply isn’t set up to compete with.

HTC’s decision means there won’t be a 5-inch Windows Phone 8 flagship in the new year; according to the insiders, the company had planned a 2013 release for the phone, with Samsung a key target. Neither HTC, nor Microsoft, will comment on the rumors.

Just a couple days ago, we heard that HTC’s 5-inch 1080p smartphone would be hitting China sometime this month, joining Japan and the US, but it seems the phone is also planned for a UK launch as well. We’re not sure if the listing was put up prematurely or if it’s the real deal, since it looks like you can go through the buying process and reserve one for yourself. The website says that they won’t charge you for the purchase until it gets shipped out.

UPDATE: We’ve heard word that these UK units may be grey-market imports, meaning that HTC hasn’t officially started offering them in the UK, so if you buy one of these units, you may not get the official HTC warranty and all that, so be sure to approach with caution for now.

This version for sale is for an unlocked and SIM-free model that comes in black. It’ll obviously sport the large 5-inch display with a 1080p resolution. The US version of the phone comes with a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box.

The website lists similar specs with the UK version of the device, and we’re guessing a hefty price tag will accompany those specs. The recent China version will have a price of around $700, so we wouldn’t be surprised if the UK version ended up costing somewhere in that price range as well.

Details are still pretty scarce at this point, still. However, it’s expected to come with roughly the same specs as the US’s DROID DNA and Japan’s J Butterfly. We’ll certainly see the 5-inch 1080p Super LCD3 display, and the 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon Krait processor with 2GB of RAM. Other than that, it’s all up in the air.

However, it will most likely come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, and the 8MP rear camera with the 2.1MP front-facing shooter will also make an appearance. Overall, I think we should expect mostly the same specs and features that American and Japanese users are currently taking advantage of, save for a different radio and data band.

The only think we’re not at all certain about is whether the Deluxe DLX will come with some form of data — either 3G or 4G. We’ll most likely see at least 3G capabilities, but considering how a lot of European carriers don’t yet have prominent LTE networks like the US has, we’re not sure if HTC will bite the bullet and pack in a LTE chip in the rumored device. We’ll have to wait and see.

[via Android Community]

Verizon is asking $199.99 for the DROID DNA after signing a two-year contract, but if you want to get the handset without an agreement, it’ll cost you a pretty $599.99. The phone was announced earlier last week, and it’s the first smartphone to be equipped with a 1080p display, which gives it an unimaginable pixel density of 440ppi.

The DROID DNA is the US version of the HTC J Butterfly that was unveiled back in October in Japan. The handset has Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on board, with HTC’s Sense 4+ UI running on top. There’s also a quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (non-expandable), and a 2020mAh battery.

You’ll also find Beats Audio, Bluetooth 4.0, a 2.1MP front-facing camera, with an 8MP rear camera that can simultaneously record HD video and photos. There’s the obvious 4G LTE connectivity, as well as global roaming capabilities. For an in-depth look at the device, be sure to skim through our review to learn more.

Not content with whispers of just one 1080p smartphone, the rumor mill churned out another concerning a 1080p device from LG, while today’s the day that the iPad mini LTE and 4th gen iPad went up for sale at AT&T and Verizon stores. We heard the good news that AT&T is hitting 4G LTE roll out milestones ahead of schedule, and Apple has been granted a rather controversial patent for page-tuning animation. The crew for the next Star Wars movie is beginning to assemble, while LucasFilm said that it will begin putting out 2-3 movies a year after the release of Episode VII.

We had a lot of video game news today, with Activision announcing that Black Ops II pulled in $500 million in sales on launch day, and Sony announcing that the PS3 has hit 70 million sales worldwide. Nintendo said it won’t have Nintendo TVii ready to go by the time the Wii U launches this weekend, and Hulu launched a brand new Games Hub which users can visit to check out new video game trailers. Nintendo launched a new Pokedex app on the Japanese iOS App Store today, while Microsoft and Sony both revealed the deals they have in store for Black Friday.

We found out that a poll which claimed lagging consumer interest in Windows 8 may not be entirely trustworthy, and a new Apple HDTV product was tipped for an incoming reveal. The Google Maps app for iOS is nearing the finishing touches stage of development according to a source close to the project, while Justin Timberlake showed off the new MySpace today. Apple is killing off the Messages beta for Lion users next month, and finally tonight, scientists have discovered that human ancestors were using spears as far back as 500,000 years ago. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, we hope you enjoy the weekend folks!

Hardware

HTC hasn’t strayed too far from its recent design language with the DROID DNA, and unlike its brightly-colored Windows Phones, the new Android flagship sticks with sober black for its chassis, lightened only with some splashes of red and fine detailing. That’s not to say it’s an ugly phone, nor a badly constructed one. It’s plastic, but HTC’s polycarbonate feels far more impressive than Samsung’s comparatively flimsy materials.

The 141 x 70.5 x 9.73 mm casing is surprisingly compact, given the size of the screen, a perception helped by the taper to the rubberized-finish rear panel and the bevel of the edges. The micro-perforated red grilles running down those edges are, HTC tells us, meant to be reminiscent of a Lamborghini, though they work more as a simple visual cue pulling together the slice of red at the earpiece and the matching camera lens trim on the back.

Less successful are the physical buttons, the centered, recessed power key being tricky to find with your finger on the top edge, and the volume rocker being on the right side rather than the left, as is more usual. We’re close to forgiving HTC for that, though, since it included not one but two notification LEDs, the first hidden behind the earpiece grille on the front, and then a second on the back of the phone, so that there’s more chance of you spotting when an alert comes in.

Obviously the DROID DNA’s pride and joy is its display, which we’ll cover specifically in the next section. The rest of the phone is no slouch, however. At its heart is Qualcomm’s quadcore 1.5GHz APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, paired with 2GB of RAM; it’s the same chip as in the LG Nexus 4, but we’re told that HTC and Qualcomm worked together on refining the firmware so as to eke out even greater performance.

Elsewhere, just about every shiny and appealing part from the other devices in HTC’s line-up has been squeezed into the DROID DNA. The 8-megapixel main camera has the f/2.0 aperture, 28mm lens and 1080p Full HD video recording we’ve seen on the HTC One X+, along with HTC’s dedicated ImageChip processing that optimizes photos in their RAW state rather than after they’ve been converted to JPEGs. HTC says that’s better for final quality, and the front-facing 2.1-megapixel camera – which gets the 88-degree wide angle lens, for fitting more people into group shots even when the DNA is held at arm’s length, as on the Windows Phone 8X by HTC – also routes its shots through the standalone processing.

Beats Audio makes an appearance, as per most mid- to high-end HTC phones of late, but the DROID DNA also gets the twin amplifiers of the One X+, one each dedicated to the headphone socket and the internal speaker. According to HTC, it makes for a device that can comfortably drive more powerful headphones, and without distortion. We had no problems turning the volume up to painful levels when listening to music via headphones, and the DROID DNA’s speaker is similarly capable of loud playback, with admirably little hiss or grumble until you reach the very top end of the scale.

Wireless connectivity ticks all of the expected boxes. You get LTE for Verizon’s 4G network, as well as CDMA EVDO Rev.A for when you’re outside of 4G range; the DROID DNA is also a global phone, with quadband (850/900/1900/2100) UMTS/HSPA and quadband GSM/EDGE for use when you’re outside of the US. Verizon preloads a microSIM for when you’re roaming.

You also get WiFi a/b/g/n (2.4/5GHz) and Bluetooth 4.0, along with NFC and wireless charging. All of the standard sensors are including, such as GPS, a digital compass, accelerometer, and an ambient light sensor, and you can turn the DROID DNA into a mobile hotspot, sharing its 4G/3G connection with up to ten WiFi-tethered devices (though Verizon may charge you for the privilege, depending on which plan you’re on). A microUSB port – hidden under an unnecessary flap – does duty for traditional charging, swapping data with your computer, and as an MHL HDMI output with the appropriate adapter, though there’s also DLNA streaming support.

In fact, the only real blip on the spec sheet is storage. HTC has outfitted the DROID DNA with 16GB of internal storage, roughly 11GB of which is available to the user; beyond that, there’s no way to augment the memory since the phone has no microSD slot. There’s also no sign of a 32GB or 64GB version.

Unsurprisingly, that fact hasn’t gone down well with potential users. Neither HTC nor Verizon will say on the record why the decision around a 16GB maximum was made, though since the HTC J Butterfly – Japan’s DROID DNA counterpart – makes room for a microSD slot, it seems obvious that it’s something other than physical constraints forcing HTC’s hand. Were we conspiracists, we might wonder whether it was carrier-led, so as to maximize LTE traffic by users regularly accessing data stored in the cloud.

Display

HTC breaks new ground in the US market with the DROID DNA’s display, a 5-inch 1080p Super LCD 3 panel delivering twice the resolution of big-screen rivals such as Samsung’s Galaxy S III or LG’s Nexus 4. It’s not physically the biggest smartphone screen on the market – the Galaxy Note II, for instance, measures in at 5.5-inches – but by delivering 1920 x 1080 it simply blows rivals away.

Pixel density has become the obsession of smartphone and tablet manufacturers in recent years, after Apple made pixels per inch (ppi) a selling point of the iPhone 4. Today, the iPhone 5 has a pixel density of 326ppi, still competitive despite larger Android handsets with greater screen sizes, but the DROID DNA’s 440ppi count puts it in another league entirely. Even when you get up close – far closer than the distance from which you’d normally view a smartphone display – text and graphics are silky smooth, and it’s enough to make 720p panels look crunchy and unrefined in comparison.

It’s not only how many pixels the HTC is packing, though, it’s their quality. LCD displays tend to avoid the over-saturation of colors that AMOLED can sometimes deliver, and indeed the DROID DNA has a cooler image than, say, the Galaxy Note II. Not lacking in brightness, though, and highly accurate, while viewing angles are sufficiently broad so as to look at the phone entirely askew and still not suffer any distortion.

HTC has sensibly protected its flagship feature with a slice of toughened Gorilla Glass 2, but has also made sure the bezels around the display are as narrow as possible. That pays dividends in the hand and in the pocket, with the DROID DNA feeling less comically oversized than the Note II. In fact, despite offering a larger screen, the HTC is less than 5mm longer than the Galaxy S III and even a fraction narrower, though Samsung’s phone is still thinner.

Of course, just as a bigger display demands more power, so does driving a higher resolution panel, and the Full HD of the DROID DNA will inevitably make demands on the smartphone’s battery and GPU. Still, 1080p videos look incredible, with accurate colors and good brightness, while ebook text was particularly easy to read thanks to the smoothness of the fonts and the excellent contrast.

Software

HTC missed getting the DROID DNA out of the door with the latest version of Android, Google’s relentless release schedule meaning the new Verizon flagship ships with 4.1 Jelly Bean rather than the very newest 4.2. That means you miss out on the lockscreen widgets and Photo Sphere camera functionality, though updating to the latest version of Google Search on the DROID DNA brings the more advanced Google Now functionality as well as offline voice typing.

Of course, HTC hides the regular Android interface under its own, with the DROID DNA packing HTC Sense 4+ as is the “house style.” Custom reskins generally meet with mixed reactions, some users appreciating manufacturer efforts to simplify or refine the core UI, while others would far prefer the raw Android dialogs, not least on the assumption that subsequent OS updates will come through in a more timely fashion.

DROID DNA vs Others

For manufacturers like HTC, though, skins such as Sense are an opportunity to further brand the user-experience, and they don’t look to be going anywhere soon. In its latest iteration, Sense 4+ supports Evernote synchronization with the onboard Notes app (for text, photos, and audio) and Audible for ebooks, while the new Gallery pulls in content from the DROID DNA’s own storage, as well as your Facebook, Picasa, Flickr, and Dropbox accounts.

HTC also persists with dedicated touch-sensitive buttons on its phones, despite Google’s attempts to lead by example on the Nexus range and switch to on-screen keys. The back, home, and app-switcher buttons are, by virtue of the pared-down bezel, quite close to the bottom of the handset, which can make one-handed use tricky at times. Long-pressing the home button triggers Google Now, while HTC has reskinned the app-switcher, showing larger thumbnails than Google’s default, in an animated carousel.

Unfortunately, Verizon has its way with the DROID DNA, and the phone comes preloaded with numerous apps from the carrier. There’s My Verizon Mobile for checking your account, along with VZ Navigator if for some reason Google’s excellent Maps app isn’t satisfying your navigation needs. NFL Mobile, Viewdini, American Express Serve, and Verizon Tunes all seem of comparatively little use, and while the IMDb, Slacker Radio, Kindle, and Facebook apps are probably more to the tastes of everyday owners, we’d still prefer to have their presence optional rather than see them forced on us by default. Given the limited onboard storage, not being able to uninstall the preloaded apps makes their presence even more infuriating.

Overall, Sense 4+ does the job, but we can’t escape the feeling that, in its more recent versions, Android is already sufficiently approachable to make skinning it less valuable to the end-user. We’re a long way from the rough and ready early days of Android, and the compromises in update timeliness are simply less acceptable than they perhaps once were. The third-party modding community will undoubtedly flock to the DROID DNA, but regular users may find themselves forced to wait longer for newer versions of the core OS, with not a huge amount to show for it in return.

Performance

With Qualcomm’s current flagship processor inside, we had high expectations from the DROID DNA, and the reality didn’t disappoint. In day to day use there was little we could throw at the phone to slow it down: apps load instantly, and Full HD video plays back jerk, judder, and lag free, whether you’re watching it on the HTC’s own display or pushing it out to your big-screen TV.

That experience is weighed out by some of the most impressive benchmarking scores we’ve seen. In Quadrant, the DROID DNA scored a whopping 7,879 – comfortably besting the LG Optimus G (7,306) and Nexus 4 (4,961) which each use the same CPU – while its 14,486 score in AnTuTu was more than 3,000 points higher than the Optimus G.

Qualcomm’s own Vellamo test perhaps unsurprisingly saw the DROID DNA at the top of the chart, scoring 1,778 in HTML5 tests and 616 in Metal tests. Smartbench 2012 saw a particularly strong showing in the Productivity category, at 4,764, though slightly less impressive in Gaming, at 2,478. Finally, the SunSpider 0.9.1 test of browser JavaScript performance came in at 1,210.7 ms (lower is better), nearly half the time it took the Nexus 4 to complete the same test.

As for LTE performance, we saw stronger download performance than upload, on average. Side by side with an iPhone 5, the DROID DNA pulled in on average 7.97 Mbps, versus 6.84 Mbps on Apple handset for downloads, and 2.05 Mbps versus 1.51 Mbps for uploads. That pays dividends when you’re using the DROID DNA as a mobile hotspot, though we did encounter a frustrating intermittent issue whereby our connection to the hotspot would periodically drop. Obviously, LTE performance is very much network and location dependent, and your experience of speeds will vary.

Camera

The DROID DNA’s cameras aren’t unfamiliar to us: HTC used the same 8-megapixel/2.1-megapixel combination on the One X+. The phone is capable of Full HD video recording front and back, and Sense 4+ has various tweaks to improve usability. Self-portrait shots using the front-facing camera now support an optional timer countdown, helping reduce phone-shake when you tap the button, while if you leave the camera app active when you lock the phone, it bypasses the lock screen when you next hit the power button so that you don’t miss your shot.

Those shots turn out to be very good, with plenty of detail albeit with colors slightly more subdued than on other phones we’ve tested of late. Low light performance can’t hold up to the PureView technology on Nokia’s Lumia 920 – you do get an LED flash, though it’s as mediocre as all of its ilk – but daylight shots are solid, and the extra detail we spotted in frames in comparison to what Samsung’s Galaxy S III produced is welcome, especially if you’re subsequently cropping.

The front-facing camera, meanwhile, suffers some from its lower resolution, and pictures can tend toward the grainy. HTC’s vaunted wide-angle lens does what it promises, however, and there’s comfortably room for three people to fit in-frame with the DROID DNA at arm’s length; four people if you’re closely packed in.

As for video, it has the same balance of extra detail though slightly less saturated colors as we’ve seen in the HTC’s stills, but is watchably smooth and the twin microphones are sensitive. Both video and still capture buttons are on-screen throughout, meaning you can grab a still shot without interrupting video recording.

Phone

Tenacious with a signal, the DROID DNA gave us no problems with making and receiving voice calls, though the earpiece has a hollowness to it – particularly at high volumes – that means it’s not the very best for phone duties. Still, the twin microphones do well at noise cancellation, and callers found it easy to hear and understand us, even when background noise levels were higher.

Battery

With a 2,020 mAh battery and no option to swap it out for a second pack, we were concerned that the DROID DNA wouldn’t hold up to daily use. In practice, the huge screen resolution and the LTE connectivity do mean there are decisions – and compromises – to be made that significantly impact how long you can be away from the charger, and they have a lot to do with how HTC and Verizon expect you to use the phone.

The cloud plays a huge role in the ownership experience of modern smartphones, and for the DROID DNA it’s even more central. Photos and video that are automatically uploaded to Google+, or Facebook, or Dropbox, or other gallery services; streamed music and video from online stores; the usual gamut of push services like email, messaging, Twitter, Facebook chat, and the rest. Use the DROID DNA as it’s arguably “meant” to be used, and we saw it go from charged to flat in under seven hours.

That’s not to say it’s impossible to stretch the runtime out. Be more sensible with auto-uploads, temper the brightness of the display, and resist the urge to spend all day watching 1080p video, and you can get a day’s use from it. Power management tweaking is basically a default chore for Android devices, at least those which push the envelope on the spec sheet, and there are plenty of people willing to go the extra mile in setting up their phone to achieve the best balance for them.

Wireless charging does help that – as we’ve found with other devices that support it, you generally drop your phone on the charging mat when it’s idle, thus giving it a minor top-up that helps extend its runtime – but HTC and Verizon opt not to include the mat in the box. Though you could argue that, since the DROID DNA is compatible with any Qi-standard charging mats, that doesn’t penalize those existing owners, wireless charging is in itself such a fledgling market that it’s far more likely to just frustrate new owners who have to stump up $59.99 extra for the accessory.

Price and Value

At $199.99 with a new, two year agreement, you’re getting a lot of specifications for your money. The DROID DNA is priced on a par with the Galaxy S III and iPhone 5 (all in 16GB form, though only the Samsung allows you to expand on that), a minor surprise given we would not have been too shocked to see Verizon opt for $249.99 or even $299.99 for the new handset.

Verizon requires a Share Everything plan, priced from $40 per month for unlimited calls and messaging, with the DROID DNA, though that only gets you 300MB of data. Stepping up to 1GB is $50 per month, doubling that allowance costs ten bucks more. If you’d prefer to go month-to-month, Verizon will charge you a not-inconsiderable $599.99 (and offer you the same monthly plan pricing).

The big comparison at this level is LG’s Nexus 4. Although T-Mobile USA is offering it subsidized, Google is plainly expecting most people to buy it unlocked, starting from an impressive $299. You need to step up to the 16GB version to more closely match the DROID DNA’s specifications, and you don’t get LTE, but even then the $349 off-contract price is very impressive.

Both phones have the same processor, but the HTC offers the better display while the LG promises more timely Android updates. In short, if budget is the primary concern, then there are better deals to be had with the Nexus 4, but power users or multimedia addicts will miss the Full HD of the DROID DNA.

Wrap-Up

We’ve criticized HTC in the past for taking what has felt like the safer route through the mobile landscape, and its decisions have seen it struggle to stand out while rivals like Samsung dominate Android device sales. The DROID DNA, though, is a return to the trail-blazing form of HTC’s earlier days in Android: those times when the company had the best screens, and the fastest processors, and were legitimately “the phone to have” if you were a power user.

Chasing the cutting edge demands some compromises, however, and the DROID DNA has two significant ones. The first is storage, with the 11GB of usable capacity being simply too little for a modern flagship when there’s no microSD support; we’re tempted to blame Verizon rather than HTC for that decision, but whoever is at fault, it’s the user that loses out in the end. Expect to go through your monthly data allowance more quickly if you rely on the cloud to make up the difference.

More worrying, though, is battery life. Superlative display and processor performance needs a power source to match, and the DROID DNA’s 2,020 mAh, non-removable battery is a compromise that’s likely to cause owners headaches. Yes, you can tweak better runtime out of it, but it’s frustrating to have a powerhouse of a phone that can’t be run at its best all the time unless you’re willing to charge it up twice a day.

And yet, it’s hard not to fall for the DROID DNA’s charms. It’s better put together than Samsung’s high-end devices, and the screen is the best around; we can’t wait to see what mobile game developers do to take advantage of the S4 Pro’s potency. It’s a win for Verizon, then, but a crying shame that it’s not available on other carriers in the US: HTC needs to follow Samsung’s lead in that respect, and make sure everyone who finds the DNA appealing has the chance to pick one up, no matter their carrier of preference.

Big, bold, and beautiful. The DROID DNA is a return to what we’ve loved about HTC before, and while it’s not perfect, it’s a significant improvement in the manufacturer’s range and a compelling option in Verizon’s line-up. The Galaxy S III and iPhone 5 just got some real competition.

HP’s PC chief took some time out of his day to talk some smack about Microsoft Surface, while Google started sending out emails that said some Nexus 4 orders have been placed on backorder for three weeks. We learned today that 4G LTE networks are surprisingly easy to bring down, and Dell’s earnings for Q3 are showing a pretty big decline year-over-year. Usage of Microsoft’s SkyDrive has doubled in six months (and there are new features on the way), while a new survey is telling us that consumer demand for Windows 8 is a little on the low side.

We learned that the Steve Jobs biopic will be comprised of a collection of pre-keynote footage, and SpaceX founder Elon Musk talked about the future of space exploration. Steve Ballmer had some harsh words for the likes of Android and Apple today, while we learned that thieves made off with a shipment of 3,600 iPad minis. The HTC Deluxe was leaked today, leading us believe that it’s the international version of the HTC DROID DNA, and a new augmented reality game called Google Ingress was officially revealed.

Microsoft will be holding Windows Store app labs in 30 different cities to help Windows 8 developers make apps for the new OS, Xbox Live celebrated its 10th birthday. Spotify confirmed that its web app beta is rolling out to select number of users today, and Bethesda shared a bunch of new screenshots from its upcoming Dragonborn DLC. Finally tonight, Don Reisinger asks why the music industry seems to dislike fairness, while we go hands-on with the new Samsung Galaxy Camera – it’s a cool little device, so you’re not going to want to miss that one! That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night everyone!

Instead, there’s just a WiFi network signal, not a 3G or 4G status indicator in the notification bar. While Verizon’s LTE coverage is increasingly complete, 4G networks in Europe are less comprehensive, and there are several different bands in use which can make creating a single phone to satisfy all carrier needs frustrating.

Still, given the flagship allure of the Deluxe/DNA, we’d be very surprised if there wasn’t an LTE version for at least some locations. HTC already provides UK carrier EE with a 4G model – the HTC One XL – and has been cagey about the potential of a One X+ LTE version, telling us back at the smartphone’s launch that there were no current plans for adding 4G to its abilities.

That could well be because the next EE 4G HTC will be the Deluxe, and that’s not a prospect we would necessarily argue with. In addition to the 5-inch Full HD display there’s a quadcore Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, and cameras tuned for the sort of photos phones are called upon to capture: f/2.0 on the back for improved low-light performance, and an 88-degree wide angle lens on the front for fitting more people into group shots.

When, exactly, HTC will come clean with the global version of the DROID DNA is still a mystery; in the US, it will hit shelves on November 21. More details in our hands-on and in the video below.

This update has the HTC DLX launching in China on December 6th, less than a month away – and with it will be coming a body that’s not unlike the USA version of the device as well. While the J Butterfly had some different configuration points than the DROID DNA has here near its Verizon launch, the DLX appears to follow the 4G LTE stateside version’s design cues.

This device will quite likely be launched alongside the HTC Windows Phone 8S and Windows Phone 8X, two device that are also headed to the USA on several carriers. These devices will certainly be counted upon by HTC to keep the flame burning bright through the end of the year while their HTC One series is updated and re-issued with greater powers than they initially had as well, lead by the HTC One X+.

The HTC DLX is said to be coming in black, brown, and white, this breaking with the look of the USA edition which comes in black only, with a red trim. Have a peek at the timeline below to get all the information you could possibly desire on the HTC DLX, DROID DNA, and J Butterfly, three HTC devices cut from the same cloth!

[ IntoMobile]

3G Nexus 7s started shipping earlier today, and we found out that Apple stores take in $6,000 in sales per square foot. IHS is predicting that the Wii U will sell 3.5 million units by the end of 2012, and Nokia has announced its new HERE mapping service to take on Google Maps. The release preview of Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 is now available to check out, and there seems to be a pretty major issue with some of the Black Ops II PC discs floating around out there.

Verizon and Motorola begin sending out OTA Jelly Bean updates to the DROID RAZR M today, while Google started installing its fiber network in Kansas City. BitQwik has released a search app for Evernote users, while Verizon said it will be launching 4G LTE in a bunch of new markets on November 15. mLogic unveiled a new PCIe expansion chassis that’s compatible with Thunderbolt, Android 4.2 has made its way to the Android Open Source Project, and Murfie and Sonos have teamed up to help you move your physical CDs into the cloud.

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm was finally given a release date earlier today, Vimeo has launched a new preview of its upcoming pay-to-view program, and we learned today that the ASUS VivoTab RT will be landing at AT&T later on this week. Finally tonight, we have a few originals for you to have a look at. Chris Davies tells us why the HTC DROID DNA should have been a Nexus device, while Chris Burns gives us his reviews of the Olympus Stylus XZ-2 and the Otaku Camera for iOS. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night folks!

The Nexus program has always been about pushing the envelope in mobile. That started out purely in hardware terms, with the original Nexus One acting as a shove for manufacturers to wade into the specifications arms-race. In handsets since, Google has used each iteration to frame its ambitions with Android, in terms of what it believes should be standards in software, hardware, services, and features. So, the LG Nexus 4, Google’s latest collaboration, adds wireless charging for one, the search giant’s theme-du-jour.

HTC has given the DROID DNA wireless charging. It has the high-resolution cameras – back and front, the latter ideal for the Google+ video hangouts Google has been pushing of late, what with its wide angle 88-degree lens – and top-tier processor of the Nexus 4, and the 2GB of RAM, and the gamut of sensors. It has a display that not only uses Super LCD, like the Nexus 4, but which blows its resolution out of the water with a Full HD panel, double the 720p LG opted for. There’s NFC, for Google Wallet. Even Google and LG’s decision to limit internal storage and leave out a microSD card slot has been mimicked, with Google hoping the cloud will drift in to take the place of local files.

In fact, there are only really two points of divergence from Google’s current Nexus strategy and HTC’s approach with the DROID DNA – well, three if you count Sense, but then it’s an HTC-branded Android phone, and so Sense (for better or worse) is a given. First is on-screen buttons, or their absence, with HTC insisting on keeping its dedicated keys for system navigation. That’s something Google has been trying to push for a couple of Nexus generations now, but it’s something OEMs (when they’re not being coerced with Nexus branding, that is) seem reluctant to accept.

DROID DNA by HTC hands-on:

The second, and more important, is price, and it’s here that Google and HTC’s approaches may have proved incompatible for Nexus purposes. The LG Nexus 4 is distinguished in no small part by its affordability in SIM-free state, and at $299 sans-contract it actually matches some handsets sold with the shackles of a 24-month contract. Google’s ambition is to drive off-contract adoption (just as it tried – and failed – with the first Nexus, because either the market, or the carriers, or consumers, or most likely all three, weren’t ready) and further relegate the operators to the role of dumb-pipe, and for that it needs a handset that’s startling in its affordability.

In contrast, the HTC DNA is unlikely to be a cheap phone, at least not SIM-free. True, Verizon is hitting the $199.99 price point, but that’s a subsidized figure: it relies on the carrier recouping its initial outlay on your shiny new phone with an overflowing wallet-full of cash on calls, messaging, and data each month over a two year period. That expectation, plus HTC’s desperation what with its own dire financial straits, has undoubtedly prompted a more competitive subsidy, with an eye on the longer-term that an off-contract phone simply can’t match.

Here, then, is where HTC and Google’s ambitions diverge most significantly. Google needs a cheap Nexus, a device as network-agnostic as possible. That’s why it left out LTE, after all – because supporting each individual flavor of 4G means tying yourself to a handful of carriers, and the necessary testing and approval for each – and why operator offers in each country where the Nexus 4 is being sold feels like an afterthought.

HTC, though, desperately needs a device that will see the company taken seriously again. A phone that can stand against the best from Samsung, and LG, and Motorola, and even Apple, and not immediately be relegated to the also-ran category. Once, the company was synonymous with Android phones; in the past 12-18 months, however, it has dwindled to a shadow of its former glories.

It’s too early to say whether the DROID DNA will achieve all that, though on a specs basis (an important element, though not the only one) it’s off to a promising start. If there’s a drawback to be found, though, it’s likely to be the software side of the equation: one of the reason Google’s Nexus devices have grown in popularity among users, particularly those heavily invested in Android, is because they’re first in line for OS updates. The DNA runs an older version out of the box, Android 4.1, and by saddling it with Sense, HTC has introduced further delay into the upgrade process.

Right now, that delay seems inevitable. If HTC can use the early access Google has promised to new versions of Android for key OEMs, and give supporting existing devices with timely updates the same degree of priority as it does pushing out new phones, it could do what so far Samsung, LG, and the others have failed to achieve. That is, create its own take on the Nexus program, delivering the latest and greatest in hardware with the latest and greatest in software, maintaining its unique brand in Sense without also demanding a compromise on software freshness from users. That’s the way to build brand loyalty and relevance, and they’re the two factors that could yank HTC from its current downward spiral. The answer’s simple: just make the DROID DNA a Nexus in all but name.

This service has you following three easy steps, the first of which is to send your CD collection to Murfie for free. They give you to the shipping tags, you just have to drop the boxes off in the mail. They’ll receive the CDs and import all of the songs to your Murfie library – that’s their own service which you, of course, have full access to via the web. You now also have the ability to stream your whole Murfie music library on your Sonos system.

So oddly enough, if you were already using Sonos to stream music from your computer, you might have already been doing this same combo at home. This collaboration makes the team-up official and pushes for the combo to be used – and also comes with a free trial of unlimited music streaming on your Sonos system through April 30h, 2013. Sonos is a gigantic, expandable speaker system ecosystem that we’ve had experiences with more than once – see our Sonos tag for more information.

This update also comes with a 100% guarantee that’s always been in place with Murfie – they make sure you’ve got confidence in them with assurance that if you’re ever not totally satisfied with their service, they’ll send you your CDs back right away. As it stands, you can also simply add Murfie to your Sonos Controller app right this minute – just so long as you’ve already got a Murfie account, of course.

[via Murfie]

This machine simply plugs into your wall and works with the wireless abilities of the DROID DNA to power your battery at a rapid speed. Oddly it doesn’t appear that the folks at LG have made any effort to be tiny like Nokia has with their own wireless charging pad effort. Instead we’ve got a rather bulky device that appears to be more like a pillow for the smartphone than a charger.

NOTE: This device was actually announced in March of 2011 and has been on the market since this spring. It is, however, coming to Verizon here for the first time, and is $10 cheaper than it was originally offered for earlier this year at electronics stores.

This beast will be charging up the DNA’s 2,020mAh battery at least once a day, especially considering the massive display and pixel density – no to mention the brightness – on the smartphone. Charging works with Qi standard technology, a standard put forth by the official Wireless Power Consortium. This likely means that the wireless charging pads Nokia has released will work just as well as this LG solution, as they use the same standard.

For more information on the DROID DNA by HTC, have a peek at the timeline below. There you’ll find hands-on action as well as pricing and release information. You’ll also find more specifications for the device, fun facts, an FCC listing, and a partridge in a pear tree. Stay tuned for our full review of the DROID DNA as well, coming up soon!

440ppi on a mobile device display is just plain crazy, but it’s the sort of crazy we could fast get used to. The DROID DNA’s 1920 x 1080 screen is not only incredibly smooth, crisp, and bright, but has incredibly broad viewing angles and minimal bezel. That helps keep the DNA relatively compact, though of course with a 5-inch panel it’s hardly going to be a small device. Still, the curved edges help blend the front with the sides, and mask some of the bulk. The “microgrill” edges are meant to remind you of a Lamborghini grille, but more importantly they’re easily gripped, as is the soft-touch rubberized back.

Under the hood there’s the 1.5GHz quadcore Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processor and 2GB of RAM, just as we saw on the HTC J Butterfly in Japan. Android 4.1 moves incredibly smoothly, with no lag evident, and while we’ll be waiting on benchmarks, we’ve a feeling the HTC will be near the top of its game. HTC also equips the DROID DNA with a 2,020 mAh battery, though with a Full HD display we’re not entirely sure how long that will last, despite HTC and Verizon’s confidence.

All of the headline stuff from HTC’s latest devices gets wrapped up in the DNA. There’s a wide-angle front facing camera which, thanks to an 88-degree lens, means more people can fit in frame at once, perfect for those at-arms-length shots. Not one but two Beats Audio amplifiers are included – separately powering the headphone jack and the DNA’s speaker – and there’s simultaneous video and photo capture too. New to the DROID line is wireless charging (though the wireless charging plate itself is optional, at $59.99), which should help keep the DNA’s battery topped up while it’s sitting idle on your desk.

It’s not a clean sweep, however. As with other recent handsets, both Android and Windows Phone, HTC has opted for fixed internal storage only: there’s no microSD card slot to expand it. That means you’re stuck with the 16GB HTC deems sufficient, and which – after apps and the rest – there’s only 11GB free for the user. Yes, the cloud is increasingly delivering our media and sweeping the content we create off our phones and into the ether, but it’s still a short-sighted decision considering the segment positioning. HTC tells us there’s no current plan for a 32GB model or larger.

Whether HTC Sense 4+ is a positive or a negative depends on your comfort level with the company’s customized interface. It’s certainly cohesive in its well-matured state, and it pulls the DROID DNA in line with HTC’s other phones, but there are plenty of people who prefer pure Android (and the timely updates that usually promises).

HTC has had a tough few quarters, struggling to raise itself above the mass of Samsung Android devices and Apple’s perpetually popular iPhone, and the company needs a stand-out product that it can legitimately describe as a flagship. It certainly has that in the DROID DNA, with hardware that has beaten Samsung’s AMOLEDs to the Full HD punch, and wrapped up in a sleek, high-quality design.

What HTC needs to convince us is that the aftersales support is just as impressive as the out-of-the-box experience. If it insists on using Sense, then it has an obligation to deliver timely Android updates rather than let existing users languish on older versions as it struggles to balance the custom interface with the pace of Google’s innovation.

Still, there’s plenty to like about the DROID DNA, and we’ll be putting the new Verizon smartphone through its paces for the full SlashGear review. The DROID DNA itself will go on sale at $200 with a new, two-year agreement on November 21.

This beast works with Qi-compatible wireless charging and a 2,020 mAh battery – we’re certainly hoping that this means that with such a giant display, Qualcomm’s processor is able to handle battery conservation extremely well. This device also works with Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean and Sense 4+, HTC’s own user interface. Inside you’ve got global data capabilities as well – in short, that means you can go anywhere, but know this: you can slip an AT&T SIM in there too if you like (though you wont get LTE in that case.)

This machine is made to take on the next generation of high-definition display needing users as well as those wanting to work with one of the most powerful processors on the planet. The Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro is currently in the LG Optimus G as well as the LG Nexus 4, here ready for the HTC universe for the first time. You’ve also got NFC as well as MHL for HDMI output and wireless connectivity.

At it’s thickest, this device is 9.73mm, and at its thinnest, 4.4mm. Needless to say, this device tapers – and it’s giant, but rather light and from what we’ve seen thus far, possibly just a bit easier to handle than the Samsung Galaxy Note II. But we’ll see in due time! Stay tuned to SlashGear for more details – and hands-on time as well!

This machine has a curved black soft-touch plastic back that gets down to 4mm at its thinnest point and has cool “microgrill” sidewalls in a bright red to accentuate your DROID experience. Inside is 2GB of RAM for perfect next-generation power teamed with your S4 Pro processor and Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box with HTC Sense 4+ user interface for a real HTC experience as well.

Inside you’ll also find the same HTC ImageSense chip present in the HTC One series, this being separate from the main quad-core processor from Qualcomm. This device works with HTC ImageSense technology and a new camera interface made with several new features to bring on a camera experience like no other. One of these features is a “Sightseeing” mode that allows you to get to your camera by pressing the device’s power button.

The camera on the front of the DROID DNA provides a quality not often seen in front-facing cameras on smartphones. Normally you’ll find the front-facing camera getting a TINY bit of quality only good enough for basic video chat. Instead what you’re getting here is what HTC calls a “best-in-class” experience with a lovely 2.1MP, f/2.0 aperture, and 88-degree ultra-wide angle front-facing camera made for not just video chat, but relatively high quality photos as well.

The front-facing camera works with a new mode called Auto Portrait – touch to begin an automatic countdown timer and snap a nice one. This device also works with HTC VideoPic, allowing you to take high quality photos while you’re shooting 1080p HD video. It also has Continuous Shooting mode with a cool 4 frames per second by just holding the shutter button. You’ve also got Map and Event Views in your photo gallery showing when and where the photos were taken.

Oddly, it appears that this device will be coming with just 16GB of internal storage and no microSD expansion slot. This means HTC is relying heavily on the idea that cloud storage is the way of the future – or the now, as it were. The battery inside this device is 2020mAh – this might also be a big downfall of the device unless the Qualcomm processor ends up being very, very good at battery conservation.

This device continues HTC’s audio adventure with Beats Audio for “studio-quality sound” across your “entire multimedia experience.” In this case, that means you’ve got a 2.55v built-in headset amplifier as well as a dedicated rear-speaker amp for high-quality sound any way you swing it. Get pumped up for the release of this monster – Autumn’s largest in HTC power!

Meanwhile, a press shot supposedly showing the final design of the DROID DNA – front and back – has been caught in the wild, showing the handset’s Beats Audio branding and confirming the 4G LTE connectivity. The smartphone is pared back compared to some of the more outlandish or colorful devices we’ve seen from HTC of late, with just a little red flourish around the lens.

HTC also continues to stick with its hardware touch buttons for back, home, and multitasking rather than following Google’s Nexus example and switching to software keys. Exact specifications of the Verizon DROID DNA are unknown, but the big draw is expected to be a 5-inch, 1080p Full HD display.

That’s the same panel as HTC has already used on the HTC J Butterfly, announced in Japan back in October, and with the aesthetic of the DROID DNA – from the leaks we’ve seen so far – being so similar to that Japanese phone, it’s no great stretch to assume that the internals may be broadly the same too. That would mean something in the region of 2GB of RAM, paired with a a quad-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 processor, 16GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot.

We’ll know for sure on Tuesday, when Verizon spills all the details in New York City.

[via evleaks and via Android Central]

We heard new rumors of an Xbox Surface again today, and AT&T announced that it will begin offering the Nokia Lumia 920 on November 9 for a mere $99. Apple OS X 10.9 has been popping up around the web today, and Opera has been updated to version 12.10, which brings support for high definition displays. Amazon has introduced a new monthly billing option for Prime, and even though you’ll be paying more than subscribing annually, it might be a better idea for some than plopping down one big lump sum.

A sequel to the classic game Elite is looking for funding on Kickstarter, while Instagram says that Hurricane Sandy was probably its biggest event ever. Vizio unveiled a new line up of HDTVs and sound bars for the holidays, while Valve officially kicked off its limited-access Steam for Linux beta today. Ford and Microsoft had reason to gloat today with the 5 millionth Sync-equipped vehicle, and EA & DICE are celebrating 10 years of Battlefield with free copies of Battlefield 1942 on Origin.

Did you photograph your ballot and put it on the Internet today? Did you know that’s an illegal thing to do? Google was awarded a new patent that means something interesting for Google Glass, and Fisker was hit pretty hard by Hurricane Sandy. Microsoft has confirmed it will be focusing on Skype instead of Windows Live Messenger, and we heard that PlayStation: The Official Magazine will be going dark later this year. Finally tonight, Chris Davies explains why Apple will kick Intel to the curb if it can, and we tell you why you should probably wait on the all of the Miracast accessories for now. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night everyone!

There has been noise in the rumorsphere for awhile that a version of the J Butterfly was headed to Verizon. Assuming the DNA is similarly spec’d as the aforementioned Butterfly, we can expect an astounding 440ppi display. This comes in light of other phablet smartphones that have been hitting the market, including Samsung’s Galaxy Note series. The J Butterfly is only available in Japan.

Also known as the DLX, the DROID DNA features a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 full HD display. Inside you’ll find a Qualcomm 1.5GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, as well as 16GB of storage space and a 2,500mAh battery to keep it all a-glow. Right now it looks like the handset runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

According to the FCC filing, the DNA features Verizon’s 4G LTE radios, in addition to GSM for those times when you need to do a bit of global roaming. This information, in addition to the multiple image leaks and abounding rumors, indicates that the phablet is indeed slated to launch soon. While it doesn’t seem like it’ll be out in time to nab a nice Black Friday discount, it looks like it’ll be here in time to find its way under a few holiday trees.

[via Android Community]

The HTC DROID DNA will bring the company’s J Butterfly 5-inch 1080p smartphone to the US on Verizon’s 4G LTE network. If the DNA is anything like the J Butterfly, it’ll feature the highest definition display of any smartphone with a 440 PPI. Essentially, the DROID DNA will be HTC’s answer to Samsung’s Galaxy Note series.

Details are fairly slim at this point, since we’re only a month out of the rumored release date, but it’s said the DROID DNA will pack a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16 and 32GB storage options, and a large 2500 mAh battery — nothing we haven’t seen before spec-wise, but that 1080p screen should be out of this world.

As usual, though, take these rumors with a grain of salt, even though they’ll likely end up being true — we wouldn’t want you to get your hopes up, only to see them come crashing down. Nothing is truly final until HTC and Verizon gives the green light, so stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

[via Android Community]

The HTC DROID DNA suffered another leak today, this one saying that it’ll be available at Verizon starting in early December, and we learned that Jelly Bean installs are on the rise, but at a pretty slow rate. A new iPad fourth-gen teardown gives us a look at more of the same, and Apple says that it’s willing to pay Motorola just one dollar per iPhone in patent fees. Smartphone market share in the US has remained more or less the same, and we got a closer look at the iPad fourth-gen’s GPU today.

A new Android vulnerability has been discovered, opening up users to SMS phishing, while one clever do-it-yourselfer has already managed to fit the iPad mini into the dashboard of his car. Apple has lost the right to sell the iPhone in Mexico, and Moshi showed off its new line of iPad mini accessories today. We learned today that we’ve had humans living on the International Space Station for 12 consecutive years, and one unfortunate BitTorrent sharer has been hit with a hefty $1.5 million fine. Verizon told us that its cell sites are improving in areas that have been hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, Overhaul Games actually bumped the release date of Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition up by a couple of days, and the Mars Curiosity rover took a very cool picture of itself.

Finally today, we have a brand new column and two pretty big reviews for you to check out. Chris Burns tells us why we’re in the age of the smartphone ecosystem rather than the age of smartphone specs, while Vincent Nguyen gives us his reviews of the highly-anticipated Samsung Nexus 10 and LG Nexus 4. That does it for tonight ladies and gentlemen, we hope you have a great weekend!

With the DROID DNA we’re likely going to be seeing essentially the same specifications as we saw with the Butterfly, that being 5-inches of display with full HD Super LCD 3 technology busting up your eyeballs. This device’s 440PPI resolution far exceeds the rest of the smartphone, tablet, notebook, and essentially any other kind of mobile devices you can think of’s best and brightest. That’s 1920×1080 pixels for those of you wondering.

This device has a relatively thin bezel not unlike what we’ve seen recently with the Motorola DROID RAZR M and, like that device as well, you’ve got 2GB of RAM inside. Inside you’ll see 16GB of storage expandable with a microSD card slot and an 8 megapixel camera on the back. This device has a lovely 2,020 mAh battery inside and you’ve got the most beastly processor on the block as well: the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core present in the LG Optimus G and the LG Nexus 4.

Of course these specifications exist on the HTC J Butterfly and have not yet been confirmed on the DROID DNA, but we’d put money on most of them. Expect full 4G LTE connectivity along with this lovely black and red body as well as Verizon’s own additions to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Don’t set your hopes too high for Android 4.2 just yet. Stick around as we learn more rather imminently!