With AllJoyn, most of the work is done by developers before you, the user, ever gets it in your hands – this is part of what makes AllJoyn so excellent – you barely even need to know it’s there! The next thing that makes AllJoyn so enticing is its ability to connect devices together without a middle-man – you’ll see several different examples of ways this is happening in the videos below. Then there’s the support developers get from Qualcomm when developing with AllJoyn – there’s nothing like having an ultra-pro group of technical specialists there to help you when you’re working with a new technology, especially when you’re a developer on the rise.

Namco’s Pacman Kart

First peek at a presentation of Pacman Kart from Namco working on a pair of Sony Ericsson Xperia Play smartphones. Here you’ll hear how when both devices are connected to one another directly with AllJoyn – pay special attention to the end of the video where we speak on how these devices could be connected with their Wi-fi radios or their built-in bluetooth, AllJoyn not needing you to choose between them – it just works!

Phunware on a tablet connected to smart TV

Next take a look at a set of apps created by Phunware to work on a Qualcomm-powered tablet (an HTC Jetstream for those of you wondering) communicating with a Qualcomm-powered smart tv (powered by an S3 chip). You’ll find that the connection between the tablet and the television is in-sync because AllJoyn is communicating between the two devices with the radios built-in to either. The first example has an interactive trivia game controlled by the tablet. The next example has video playing on the television while related links and images appear on the tablet. The final example has a karaoke game that uses the tablet as a microphone, able then to play the song back with the voice you recorded the song in on the television immediately after you sang it.

JamJoyn music

JamJoyn is shown next, this an application custom-made for AllJoyn in which music is able to be controlled by several different devices all working with the same stereo. The devices used here are the HTC Thunderbolt and the HTC Nexus One (both running Snapdragon processors, of course) working with a Jawbone JAMBOX, each of them able to control the music by switching tracks, adding to a single playlist, and more. In this use case you’ll find the list of songs sitting below a control panel on both devices – the JAMBOX is connected to the Thunderbolt with an audio output cord, but both devices can control the jams.

Whiteboard

AllJoyn shows its power again with an app by the name of Whiteboard in which regardless of how many devices you’ve got open with the same canvas, anyone can draw and the canvas will be modified accordingly. Imagine the use of such a tool in an educational setting – especially in an art class! You could have a set of tablets all showing off the same piece of artwork with each one able to modify the rest – brilliant!

Fight Game: Heroes

We also got the chance to play the brand new mobile game Fight Game Heroes connected with AllJoyn on Qualcomm MSM8960 developer platform tablets. It was your humble narrator versus Cory Gunther and, believe it or not, I get knocked out in no time flat. Have a peek and see how versatile this system is on a couple of tablets made for developers only!

We’ll certainly continue to keep you updated on Qualcomm’s work with AllJoyn and will continue to bring you use-case scenarios as they appear on the mass market. Exciting stuff coming from a group that brings you not just the processor, but a network of finely tuned hardware in every device they work with. Developers get your thinking caps out!

The device you see above is working on an HTC ThunderBolt, the world’s first 4G LTE device carried by Verizon, an Android device that we’ve reviewed at length and have enjoyed for many months in the past. I’m not sure this device will resurrect our love of one of HTC’s greatest hits, but as the Intuit credit card reader plugs into the audio jack of your device and is compatible with basically any smartphone or tablet you plug it into, we won’t have to worry. In fact, it’s not just Android that gets to use this fancy little hook-up, BlackBerry and Apple’s iOS will be joining in on the party as well.

Small business owners, self-employed ladies and gentlemen, and whoever else in the world that might benefit from a use or two will enjoy the ability to create a list of frequently sold items, add sales tax, tips, and make customized receipts as just a few of the many features integrated into this hardware/software combo. All parties can feel safe working with this system as well as sensitive credit card data is never stored on the device, and all data is encrypted twice, one via the card reader itself and another via the GoPayment app. Once you’ve got your card numbers and what have you entered in, transactions can be synced with apps such as Quickbooks on PC, Mac, and soon online, all of this for as easy and well-organized a system as possible.

As is mentioned above, the actual hardware is free after you activate a GoPayment account and send in a $29.97 rebate – the amount you’ll have to pay at the till being the same as this check sent to you in the mail some weeks down the line, more than likely. And how does this make sense for Verizon? They make their profits the same way GoPayment does, through a tiny bit of your monetary transactions whilst using the Intuit credit card reader unit. As Verizon and GoPayment note, “basic service has no monthly, transaction or cancellation fees, and offers a competitive 2.7 percent discount rate for swiped transactions,” while “a paid version of GoPayment is also available for $12.95 a month and provides a low discount rate of 1.7 percent for swiped transactions.”

At the moment it seems that a Verizon-carried device is not necessary to run the Intuit hardware, though you will need a compatible smartphone or tablet on some sort of data connection one way or another. Check out the full details on pricing in the gallery below.

According to iSuppli, the teardown of the HTC Thunderbolt reveals that the total bill of materials (BOM) comes to $262, which is the highest of any smartphone they have ever torn down. The cost even rivals the expense of tablets. The culprit for the bloated cost is the 4G LTE component that adds $39.75 to the BOM.

The current Verizon iPhone 4 has a BOM of $171.35, which means that if it were to incorporate the same first-generation 4G LTE component as the HTC Thunderbolt, its BOM would jump to $211.10. This doesn’t include any other changes to the design that could incur other materials costs.

This may indicate that the next iPhone won’t support 4G LTE yet because the cost and design tradeoffs may not be worth it. Plus, the first-gen 4G LTE technology isn’t integrated into the chipset making the handsets much more bulky and battery draining. However, a more efficient solution exists now from Qualcomm that combines LTE, EVDO, and HSPA into a single chip.

Knowing this, it’s strange to see that Verizon may be planning to give away the HTC Thunderbolt for free in an upcoming promotion. Well, that is of course with a two-year service agreement and the wallet drain of Verizon’s new tiered data plans.

[via IntoMobile]

The firm contacted carrier retail stores from across the country and revealed that of the two carriers that had the iPhone, it was their top selling device for all previous months. Verizon did not get the iPhone 4 until February this year and the survey shows that the Motorola Droid X was its top performer back in January.

At AT&T the iPhone 4 came in first followed by the iPhone 3GS, probably due to the enticing $50 price tag. In third was the Samsung Infuse 4G. Over at Verizon, the rankings came out with iPhone 4, Samsung Droid Charge 4G, and then the HTC Thunderbolt 4G.

The HTC EVO 3D 4G beat out the EVO 4G followed by the Samsung Epic 4G over at the NowNetwork. T-Mobile had the HTC Sensation, Samsung Vibrant 4G, and the HTC myTouch 4G. Canaccord also noted that both iOS and Android showed growth in June while BlackBerry sales dropped on all four carriers. Motorola’s sales were also slow.

[via BGR]

A Thunderbolt ROM leaked late last week that has a number of changes inside. However, in the change log updates to the 4G service aren’t mentioned, but hopefully that important fix is in there. The change log shows that data connectivity is enhanced when accessing the Verizon 3G network. The update will also update email and messaging with SMS and MMS messages now being stored properly in Messaging and tweaks to the email application for sent, inbox and more.

Other features have been addressed too with the timing for device activation improved and the Backup Assistant is now displayed correctly in the application menu. Data centric apps have improved stability with Facebook, Kayak, and Yahoo mail specifically getting attention. The Weather Widget will now give the correct location and tweaks for quickly loading GPS updates were made as well.

[via Android Community]

From Verizon’s twitter:

We’re aware of an issue with #4G #LTE connections & our network engineers are working to resolve quickly. Will update here.

The workaround was posted up on xda-developers:

-Go to the ThunderBolt’s phone dialer. Enter ##778# and hit Send.
-You’ll get a pop-up labeled EPST, with the choice to “View Mode” or “Edit Mode.” –You want “Edit Mode.”
-You’ll be asked for a password. It’s 000000.
-Now flip down to “Modem Settings,” and then choose “Rev. A.”
-Change the setting from eHRPD to “Enable,” hit OK, then press the Menu button on the phone and tap “Commit Modifications.”

This gave me 3G back, hopefully works for others.

This issue also affects the MiFi 4510l LTE Mobile Hotspots. There isn’t a workaround for this device that we currently know of, but Verizon will have everything up and running as fast as possible. For the rest of you who are drooling over LTE’s ridiculous throughput, we reviewed the DROID Charge yesterday. If you missed it you should check it out.

[via GottaBeMobile]

As with previous inductive charging systems we’ve seen, the new cover will allow the ThunderBolt to rejuice its battery whenever it’s placed down on a wireless docking plate. Probably the best known device to use this kind of tech is the Palm Pre and subsequent Palm/HP webOS handsets, which use a Touchstone charger to avoid plugging in a regular wired AC adapter.

With no technical details it’s hard to know what system exactly Verizon and HTC are using. Meanwhile availability is also unclear; at the moment the “buy now” button does nothing, and there’s no word from the company as to when it might go on sale.

[via Android Community]

Subscribers increased by 1.8m – more than half of which postpaid retail consumers – to a total of 104m, a 6.1-percent increase on the previous year. Meanwhile retail postpaid ARPU (average revenue per user) climbed 2.2-percent to $53.52; data revenues rose $5.5 billion, up $1.0 billion or 22.3-percent year over year, representing 38.1-percent of all Verizon Wireless’ service revenues.

Smartphone sales accounted for 60-percent of total phone sales, up from 49-percent in Q4 2010, to make up 32-percent of all Verizon’s postpaid users.

Press Release:

Verizon Reports Strong Start to 2011 as Wireless, FiOS and Strategic Services Continue to Generate Profitable Growth

First-Quarter Performance Affirms 2011 Revenue and Earnings Guidance

April 21, 2011 –

1Q HIGHLIGHTS

Consolidated

51 cents in diluted earnings per share (EPS), compared with EPS of 16 cents and adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) of 48 cents in 1Q 2010.
Wireless

6.3 percent year-over-year increase in service revenues in 1Q 2011; data revenues up 22.3 percent; 25.8 percent operating income margin and 43.7 percent Segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP).
1.8 million net additions, excluding acquisitions and adjustments, includes 906,000 retail postpaid net customer additions; continued low retail postpaid churn of 1.01 percent.
104.0 million total connections, includes 88.4 million retail customers.
Wireline

207,000 net FiOS Internet and 192,000 net FiOS TV additions; 4.3 million total FiOS Internet connections and 3.7 million total FiOS TV connections.
10.5 percent year-over-year increase in consumer ARPU; FiOS consumer retail revenues now represent approximately 54 percent of total consumer revenues.
12.8 percent increase in strategic enterprise revenues, which now represent approximately 46 percent of total global enterprise revenues.
NEW YORK – Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) today reported strong first-quarter 2011 earnings, as industry leader Verizon Wireless continued to effectively balance customer growth and profitability, while growth in FiOS and strategic enterprise services contributed to another quarter of improvement in wireline margins.

Verizon reported 51 cents in EPS in first-quarter 2011, compared with first-quarter 2010 earnings of 16 cents per share. There are no adjustments to first-quarter 2011 earnings results. Adjusted first-quarter 2010 earnings, excluding the impact of divestitures and non-operational charges (non-GAAP), were 48 cents per share.

On Track to Meet Revenue and Earnings Objectives

“In the first quarter, Verizon Wireless solidified its industry leadership with results that once again showed sustainable, profitable growth,” said Verizon Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg. “We are executing on our business plans and building momentum, and we are on track to meet both our revenue and earnings objectives for the year.”

Seidenberg added, “Wireline EBITDA margins expanded for the fourth consecutive quarter, driven by continued strength in FiOS revenues and disciplined cost management. Our strategic acquisition of Terremark, which closed earlier this month, improves our ability to provide integrated, enterprise-class cloud solutions and accelerate growth.”

Consolidated Revenue Growth Accelerates

On a consolidated basis, Verizon’s total operating revenues were $27.0 billion in first-quarter 2011, an increase of 0.3 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. Last year’s results included revenues from operations that have since been divested.

On a comparable basis (non-GAAP), first-quarter 2011 total operating revenues increased 5.3 percent compared with first-quarter 2010 — up from growth of 2.3 percent on the same basis comparing fourth-quarter 2010 with fourth-quarter 2009. Approximately 77 percent of first-quarter 2011 revenues were generated by higher-growth wireless, FiOS and strategic enterprise services, compared with approximately 72 percent of comparable first-quarter 2010 revenues.

As previously stated, Verizon is targeting comparable top-line revenue growth rates in the range of 4 percent to 8 percent for full-year 2011. The company is also targeting EPS growth of 5 percent to 8 percent in 2011, over a comparable adjusted base of $2.08 per share in 2010.

Verizon continues to expect 2011 capital spending to be essentially flat, compared with the 2010 investment of $16.5 billion. In first-quarter 2011, Verizon’s capital expenditures totaled $4.4 billion, compared with $3.4 billion in first-quarter 2010, as the company aggressively invested in growth opportunities, including the deployment of Verizon’s nationwide 4G LTE (fourth-generation, Long-Term Evolution) wireless broadband network. With 4G LTE deployment well under way, Verizon’s capitalized interest will be lower in 2011, resulting in higher interest expense of about $150 million for each quarter this year.

Cash flow from operations totaled $5.0 billion in first-quarter 2011, down from $7.1 billion in first-quarter 2010. Operating cash flow from higher net income in first-quarter 2011 was offset by the launch of the iPhone and satisfaction of Verizon’s full-year 2011 pension funding obligation of $392 million. In addition, the first half of last year included cash flows from since-divested properties.

Verizon said its cash flow outlook for 2011 remains strong, and there is no change regarding the anticipated 2012 timing of a Verizon Wireless dividend to its parent companies.

The effective income tax rate attributable to Verizon for the first quarter was 30 percent. For full-year 2011, Verizon anticipates an effective tax rate to be in a range consistent with the past three quarters, post the Frontier and Alltel divestitures.

Verizon Wireless Delivers Strong Operational and Financial Results

Verizon Wireless delivered strong growth in revenues, retail customers and other connections; increased retail postpaid ARPU (average monthly service revenue per user) and smartphone penetration; and delivered a strong EBITDA margin. In the first quarter of 2011:

Wireless Financial Highlights

Service revenues in the quarter totaled $14.3 billion, up 6.3 percent year over year. Data revenues were $5.5 billion, up $1.0 billion or 22.3 percent year over year, and represent 38.1 percent of all service revenues. Total revenues were $16.9 billion, up 10.2 percent year over year.

Retail postpaid ARPU grew 2.2 percent over first-quarter 2010, to $53.52. Retail postpaid data ARPU increased to $20.51, up 17.3 percent year over year. Retail service ARPU also grew 2.2 percent, to $51.88.

Wireless operating income margin was 25.8 percent. Segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP) was 43.7 percent.
Wireless Operational Highlights

Verizon Wireless added 1.8 million total connections, including 906,000 retail postpaid customers, and 897,000 wholesale and other connections. These additions exclude acquisitions and adjustments.

At the end of the first quarter, the company had 104.0 million total connections, an increase of 6.1 percent year over year, including 88.4 million retail customers and 15.6 million wholesale and other connections.

At the end of the first quarter, 32 percent of Verizon Wireless’ retail postpaid customer phone base were smartphones, up from 28 percent at the end of fourth-quarter 2010.

Retail postpaid churn remained low at 1.01 percent, and total retail churn was 1.33 percent. Both improved year over year.

Following the launch of its 4G LTE mobile broadband network in 38 markets in December 2010, the company so far has named more than 100 additional markets where 4G LTE is being rolled out. By year-end, Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, the fastest and most advanced 4G LTE network in the U.S., is expected to be available in more than 175 markets, covering a population of more than 185 million people throughout the country.

The company introduced three 4G LTE devices: the ThunderBolt by HTC, the first 4G LTE smartphone; the Verizon USB551L, a modem made by Novatel Wireless; and a Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot.

Demand was strong for new LTE devices – as well as for Apple’s iPhone 4, which produced the most successful first-day sales in Verizon Wireless history when it was introduced in February to existing customers.

Verizon Wireless continued to invest in its 3G network, the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G network.

The company announced plans to open the Verizon Wireless Application Innovation Center in San Francisco later this year, where developers, engineers and others can work together on innovative applications that will run on the company’s 3G and 4G networks.
Continued Wireline Margin Expansion and FiOS Growth

Verizon’s Wireline segment delivered continued margin expansion and growth in FiOS customers and revenues, as well as accelerated growth in revenues for strategic enterprise services. In the first quarter of 2011:

Wireline Financial Highlights

Segment EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 23.6 percent, compared with 21.1 percent in first-quarter 2010. This was Wireline’s fourth consecutive quarter of sequential margin expansion.

First-quarter 2011 operating revenues were $10.1 billion, a decline of 2.2 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. This is an improvement from a decline of 2.8 percent comparing fourth-quarter 2010 to fourth-quarter 2009. First-quarter 2011 total operating expenses were $9.9 billion, a decline of 3.9 percent compared with first-quarter 2010.

Revenues for Verizon’s FiOS fiber-optic services to consumer retail customers generated approximately 54 percent of consumer wireline revenues in first-quarter 2011, compared with approximately 45 percent in first-quarter 2010.

Consumer revenues grew 1.9 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. Consumer ARPU for wireline services was $90.55 in first-quarter 2011, up 10.5 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. ARPU for FiOS customers continues to be more than $146.

Global enterprise revenues totaled $3.8 billion in the quarter, up 1.0 percent compared with first-quarter 2010. Sales of strategic enterprise services – such as security and IT solutions, as well as strategic networking – increased 12.8 percent compared with first-quarter 2010, and accelerated from a growth rate of 8.0 percent comparing fourth-quarter 2010 with fourth-quarter 2009. Strategic services now represent approximately 46 percent of global enterprise revenues.
Wireline Operational Highlights

Verizon added 207,000 net new FiOS Internet connections and 192,000 net new FiOS TV connections in first-quarter 2011. Verizon had 4.3 million FiOS Internet and 3.7 million FiOS TV connections at the end of the quarter.

FiOS Internet penetration (subscribers as a percentage of potential subscribers) was 33.1 percent by the end of the first quarter, with the product available for sale to 13.0 million premises. This compares with 29.0 percent and 12.0 million, respectively, at the end of first-quarter 2010. FiOS TV penetration was 29.1 percent by the end of first-quarter 2011, with the product available for sale to 12.6 million premises. This compares with 25.4 percent and 11.5 million, respectively, at the end of first-quarter 2010.

Broadband connections totaled 8.5 million at the end of first-quarter 2011, a 3.0 percent year-over-year increase. FiOS Internet connections more than offset a decrease in DSL-based HSI connections, leading to a net increase of 98,000 broadband connections from fourth-quarter 2010. These are the most broadband net additions since second-quarter 2009. Total voice connections, which measures FiOS Digital Voice connections in addition to traditional switched access lines, declined 8.2 percent to 25.5 million – the smallest year-over-year decline since first-quarter 2008.

During the quarter, Verizon moved decisively to accelerate its “everything-as-a-service” enterprise cloud strategy by announcing its acquisition of cloud and managed IT infrastructure leader Terremark Worldwide, which closed in April.

Verizon continued to deploy secure IT and communications solutions that enable better business outcomes for multinational enterprise, medium-sized and government customers. These included a new cloud-based unified communications service, an enhanced set of Enterprise Identity Management offerings, and delivery of SAP’s Customer Relationship Management service through Verizon’s flagship cloud offering, Computing as a Service. In addition, Verizon completed new agreements during the quarter with a range of multinational corporations, including Delphi Automotive.

Verizon expanded its global network infrastructure, continuing to broaden its global scope and capabilities. The company installed 38 additional Private IP edge routers for a total of 852 edge routers in 238 sites throughout 63 countries; activated the first 100GE (gigabit Ethernet) transmission trunk between routers on Verizon’s backbone network; implemented Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) on its public IP backbone in Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions; and activated 7,021 miles of the Europe India Gateway submarine cable system, which connects the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The Wireline workforce totaled 92,000 at the end of first-quarter 2011, a year-over-year decline of 16,000 (adjusted for divested operations), primarily as a result of incentive offers that led to voluntary separations.
NOTE: Reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made, where appropriate, to reflect comparable operating results for the divestiture of overlapping wireless properties in 105 operating markets in 24 states during the first half of 2010; the wireless deferred revenue adjustment that was disclosed in Verizon’s Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2010; and the spinoff to Frontier of local exchange and related landline assets in 14 states, effective on July 1, 2010. See the accompanying schedules and www.verizon.com/investor for reconciliations to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for non-GAAP financial measures cited in this document.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with more than 104 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

The survey found that the devices were selling about the same at 61% of the Verizon Wireless stores. However, 11% of the stores said that the iPhone 4 was selling faster while 28% of the stores said that the ThunderBolt outsold the iPhone 4. So what does this survey say about smartphone sales or Android versus iOS preferences in the market? Not very much.

The survey was conducted during the two weeks following the Thunderbolt launch in mid-March, while the iPhone 4 has been available at Verizon since February. Not only that, but the iPhone 4 has also been with AT&T for some time now and just doesn’t have quite the freshness that the new HTC device brings. So, it’s not really a fair comparison.

The HTC Thunderbolt has gotten great reviews and impressed many with its blazing 4G speeds, so I suppose this analyst’s report is just to remind us to go get one while it’s hot. But before you head out to grab one from your local Verizon store, make sure to check our HTC Thunderbolt review.

[via BGR]

First Impressions

Being a heavy Android user and an every-other-day iOS user via iPad 2, I had low expectations for Windows Phone 7. When you’re inundated with advertisements for two systems that clearly have the sales to back up their claim, you start to believe that there’s no other OS out there that can match your favorite, or in this case favorites. The last time I reviewed a phone that wasn’t an Android, it was a BlackBerry, and I was kind but truthful on how I thought there wasn’t much future for RIM if they continued down the path they’d been going at the time.

With Windows Phone 7 on a device like the HTC Arrive, Microsoft has a fighting chance at at the very least staying in the game as an option for smartphone seekers on all the major carriers, and at most becoming one of the top three mobile OS providers in the world. What I see here is a nearly perfected bit of hardware carrying a mobile OS with a lot of potential.

Hardware

This phone is heavier than an HTC ThunderBolt with the extended battery attached. That’s saying something, as that Android phone is basically a monster once it’s got its tank cannon on. The HTC Arrive is NOT thin, but it is ergonomically shaped, so well made that you KNOW HTC has been at this game for several years making handsets made to please.

I’m concerned about the space between the top and bottom halves of the phone when the device is folded out (right where the display connector strips are housed) as that’s a PERFECT place to hold a boatload of dust. The same is true of the speaker areas on either side of the display. Thus far, however, only the speaker areas have collected a significant amount of specs and bits. On the other hand, you COULD get a little satin pull-string bag to keep the phone in, as everyone should perhaps have for their high-quality electronics.

The majority of this handset is made of metal. This is exactly what handset makers should be doing across the board. It makes the device look and feel like it cost a million bucks. The hinge on this device is tops, strong enough to stay open without flipping up and down unless you’d like it to, but easy enough to use that you’ll be able to flip it out with one hand. The camera is not ideally placed, but until the world figures out how to put the camera on the flipped-out portion of the phone, this is as good as it’s going to get.

Photo quality is OK, video quality is OK. I’m a firm believer in the fact that you’ve really got to judge this part of the phone on your own, since everyone’s got different standards. On the other hand, I can say that the video and photo quality in this device are not up to the standards HTC set for the ThunderBolt. This is a lower end of high-end camera on a high-high end device.

Software

The version of Windows Phone 7 running on this device is 7.0.7389.0. As Microsoft has done no gigantic changes to this iteration of their mobile OS, I can comfortably say that they’ve got somewhat of a long way to go. That said, there’s a LOT of potential here. You can tell that this system was designed not only by developers and programmers, but but graphic designers as well. Where in the past I always felt like Apple had the majority of the edge over Windows in desktop operating systems when it came to aesthetics, Windows Phone 7 appears fresh, daring, and new!

There are giant text blocks that cut off at the screen (but not so much you wouldn’t know what they are), arrows, dots, and gear symbols as markers in all the right places, and a simplicity that I think even Apple doesn’t truly have. That’s what Microsoft has been pushing since the beginning, and that’s what they’ve got. That said, like I mentioned above, I come from a daily schedule that includes Android and iOS every, single, day of the year. Whenever one switches from an operating system they’ve been using for years to one they’ve never seen before, they get a bit confused as to why there’s only 3 constant keys instead of 5 or 1, if you know what I mean. I think this is Microsoft’s largest barrier, and indeed the biggest barrier that any other mobile OS has at the present time.

Wrap-Up

Speaking from the same perspective, if you’ve never used Windows Phone 7 before in your life, please do yourself a favor and give it a test drive. It’s cool, it’s new, and it has, again, a lot of potential. If you’re in a position where you’ve never used a smartphone before, well then, you’ve got quite a decision before you. I will say this: the switch between Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android is going to be much easier for a person than either will be to or from Windows Phone 7. For certain.

As far as the hardware here goes – it’s tops. The hinge is strong and sticks as it should but is maneuverable enough to accept a single hand for opening. The screen is bright and will satisfy anyone hoping to play some fabulous Xbox games like Katamari or Need for Speed, and every control you’ll be needing for those games or any other applications are at the top of their game here as well. The touchscreen, for example, is as responsive as I’ve ever felt a phone being.

If you’re already in to Windows Phone 7, this is a hot choice for you. It’ll give you all the screen real-estate you’ll want and allows you a physical keyboard (which, by the way, is very nicely spaced and responsive as well.) The speakers are loud, the camera is alright, and the case itself is made of high-quality metal. A real winner in the hardware department. Let’s hope for more development from Microsoft so they can catch up with HTC for overall perfection!

You already know about the lovely swoop along the back, but now we know for sure that this is a single back battery cover covering a very familiar set of insides. With the details we’re seeing here, we’re feeling like this is set to be a VERY close relative to the HTC EVO 3D, a phone we go to check out very close at CTIA 2011. This phone has, instead of 3D cameras, an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a VGA webcam on the front.

This phone is capable of connecting along Wifi 802.11 b/g/n, rolls out the gate with the new HTC Sense 3.0, and has an ever-so-slightly-different look in its UI than we saw in Sense at CTIA 2011 – something about the tones! Perhaps just a customization done by the owner of the phone. Finally, this phone currently has Android 2.3.2, the same version we’ve been seeing for phones coming out fairly soon, fairly as in within weeks – exciting!

[via Android Community]

In the video you’re about to experience, you’ll see Vince showing off several of BodyGuardz products, a couple applied to the iPad 2, a Motorola XOOM featuring what appears to be the same material as the Armor we’ve been given for the ThunderBolt, and again, a similar skin for the iPhone 4. What Vince performs is a simple application of the ThunderBolt skin to his own ThunderBolt handset. It may be important to note here that the fine folks at BodyGuardz literally cut for us, custom, that day, the ThunderBolt skin you see in the video here as well as the one I apply on Android Community.

What you should pay attention to is the difficulty level at which these skins or armors are situated at, the playability of the material that makes up the skin, and the ease in which the skin is removed from the device and re-applied in the case of a misalignment. These skins come in a variety of textures, colors, designs, and the whole 9 yards. We’ll be reviewing more than one of their products in the future once we get them in the mail – wrap em up!

10. Sprint’s first Windows Phone 7 device, the HTC Arrive, hands-on and unboxing.

9. The Motorola XOOM WiFi-only version arriving March 27 and priced at $599.

8. Samsung product announcements:
– Galaxy Players 4 and 5
– Series 2, 4, and 6 notebooks
– Series 9 ultraportable
– Samsung 3D HDTV Monitors TA750 and TA950

7. Time Warner Cable launches live TV streaming iPad app to high demand.

6. RIM warns BlackBerry 6 users to disable JavaScript due to security issue with the new BlackBerry Browser.

5. The New York Times and The Daily both announce paywalls starting within the next two weeks.

4. The T-Mobile G2X and G-Slate are rumored to launch on April 20th.

3. The WiFi-only Dell Streak 7 now available for pre-order on Amazon.

2. Review of Infinity Blade game for iPad 2.

1. HTC Thunderbolt review.

Giveaways:
1. Wrapsol
2. StealthArmor

Analysts claim that Apple sold a million iPad 2 tablets last week. Best Buy is said to have sold out in ten minutes. The Japanese market Prius will get an option for lithium ion battery packs. A cheaper model will continue to use the nickel metal hydride batteries that all other markets have no other choice over.

AT&T announced intentions to put data limits on its U-verse and DSL plans for home users. The limits are 150GB for DSL and 250GB for U-verse. Time Warner Cable launched a new iPad app that is the first ever to play live TV. The app launched last week for subscribers only and it will only work in the home.

We went hands-on with the iPad 2 and unboxed it on Monday. Burns tried to set a world record for waiting the longest to open his and couldn’t last. An awesome DIY pinball machine using dual LCDs and some other tech surfaced. The emulator software lets you play all sorts of old school pinball machines.

Apple is taking peoples old iPads and donating them to Teach for America. You get no money for your donated tablet, but you may be able to take it as a tax deduction. A cool bottle opener concept turned up mid-week that has a handle that is a bottle and holds the caps after you pop them off your frosty beverage. Who knows if it will ever hit the market.

Some hints at the price of the Sony NGP turned up this week thanks to an Ubisoft sponsored survey. The 3G version was pegged at $350 and the WiFi only at $250. The iPad 2 was gifted with its inevitable Will it Blend treatment this week. Naturally, it would blend.

An EA boss has hinted that we might see a new Wii 2 at E3 this year. E3 isn’t that far away and this is the first hint we have heard of the console so I think this is dubious. On the other hand Nintendo is hurting on the profit side and a new console would help them greatly, so who knows. The military has some apps for Android and iOS devices in the works that will allow soldiers on the ground to control the camera on a drone in the air. The apps would allow the solider to see where enemies are and to find weapons caches more easily and safely.

Pepsi showed off a new green bottle that will go into testing soon. The bottle is made from plant material that would have otherwise been thrown away. Western Digital offered up a new and massive capacity My Book Studio Edition II External HDD. This drive has a massive 6TB of storage inside.

Apple tweaked it stock system in retail stores according to some reports. The tweak allowed workers to tell people that the iPad 2 was out of stock even if it wasn’t so they would have tablets to sell the next day. We have now heard that the iPhone 5 will have NFC tech and that it won’t have NFC tech. I think that we won’t know until Steve pulls the thing out of his pocket in June.

Scientists studying Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, have found evidence of heavy precipitation on the moon. Rather than water, it’s raining liquid methane on Titan. A geek found Friday that the magnets in the iPad 2 SmartCover were strong enough to stick the tablet to his fridge. I would worry constantly that it would crash to the floor. A new Samsung LCD for computers with a 27-inch screen turned up this week. The screen uses UWB tech needing no wire between the computer and the screen for video.

Optometrists have approved the Nintendo 3DS for use by kids under six. Nintendo had previously stated they should not play the console for long periods because it could damage their young eyes. It surfaced this week that way back in 2000 the Google founders wanted Steve Jobs to run the show as CEO. Jobs was at the time just back to Apple and hard at work in the iPod so Google went with Schmidt instead.

Friday we posted up our review of the HTC Thunderbolt. We found that the smartphones performance was sub-par thanks to its weaker dual-core processor. Did you see the gigantic moon last night? We mentioned yesterday that it was the moons closest position to the Earth, which is why it looked so gigantic. Thanks for reading this week’s edition, see you next time!

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

After May 15, Verizon will be asking $20 a month for 2GB, though on-device data – with the mandatory data package – is unlimited. Amazon is already undercutting Verizon’s pricing, with the Thunderbolt for $179.99 though currently backordered for 8-9 days.

The big question is whether the first 4G smartphone to Verizon’s network delivers the speeds we’d hoped from the service, and happily we have the benchmarking to answer that. Of course, we’ll be putting the Thunderbolt through its paces for the full SlashGear review very soon.

[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!

Video demo after the cut

After that, using the Thunderbolt as a hotspot access point will cost $20 per month for 2GB of data. That’s on top of the regular (and mandatory) data and voice packages, which start at $29.99 and $39.99 per month respectively (for unlimited on-device 4G). Verizon reckons the LTE support is good for 5-12Mbps downloads and 2-5Mbps uploads in 4G coverage.

As for the phone itself, there’s a 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor and 8GB of onboard storage, together with a pre-loaded 32GB microSD. Twin cameras – 8-megapixels on the back and 1.3-megapixels on the front – along with a built-in kickstand round things out. More details in our hands-on.

HTC Thunderbolt hands-on:

[via Android Community]

Press Release:

The Thunderbolt™ By HTC, The First 4G LTE Smartphone For Verizon Wireless Arrives March 17

ThunderBolt™ by HTC Available Beginning March 17

03/15/2011

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced that the ThunderBolt™ by HTC, exclusively from Verizon Wireless, is available on March 17 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $249.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.

Powered by Android™ 2.2, the ThunderBolt by HTC is the first smartphone to take advantage of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. The ThunderBolt by HTC features the latest version of the HTC Sense™ experience, which offers enhancements including new personalization options, a consolidated e-mail inbox, and unique camera effects and filters. The ThunderBolt by HTC is equipped with support for Google Mobile Services, including Gmail™, YouTube™ and Android Market™ with thousands of free apps. Additionally, the ThunderBolt by HTC will feature 4G LTE optimized apps such as EA’s Rock Band, Gameloft’s Let’s Golf, Tunewiki and Bitbop.

Additional features:

4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area
4.3” WVGA display
8-megapixel rear facing camera and HD (720p) video recording
1.3-megapixel front facing camera with video chatting capabilities
Newest generation of the 1GHz Snapdragon processor
Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices
8 GB of onboard memory and a pre-installed 32 GB microSD card (Actual formatted capacity will be less)
Built-in kickstand for easy media viewing
With the ThunderBolt by HTC, customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access and an unlimited 4G LTE data plan start is $29.99 monthly access. Mobile Hotspot allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the nation’s fastest wireless network via an application available on the ThunderBolt by HTC.

Mobile Hotspot will be included through May 15 for no additional charge. After May 15, customers may choose to activate Mobile Hotspot for $20 for 2 GB of data per month. Customers can track their data usage by downloading the My Verizon app available in Android Market or by logging on to their My Verizon accounts online at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.

One of the possible identities for the unknown LG phones is the G2X, which is a version of the LG Optimus 2X that is rumored to be T-Mobile’s new phone. The other phone could be the 3D Optimus that was shown at the MWC in Barcelona recently. CTIA organizers sure know how to get people excited with mysterious phones and the upcoming Samsung tablet announcements.

CTIA is held in Orlando, Florida and will run from March 22-24 at the Orange County Convention Center. It’s one the world’s largest trade shows for mobile devices like phones and tablets. The show will draw 1,000 companies and have 40,000 professionals from 125 countries to descend upon Orlando. We will be there to give you the latest updates and news.

[via Android Community]

The device is already listed on the HTC online store, but is shown as unavailable and therefore cannot be added to the online shopping cart. The anonymous fan was able to get the item to show up in the shopping cart by some method of copying and pasting of the url address and then changing the item number.

Below are his own words:

Go to HTC’s online store, go to any product detail page. ’Copy link address’ for the “Add to cart” link. Paste to the address bar, change product ID to 38411, submit. You’ll be taken to an HTC Incredible page, but when you click to view your “Cart,” you’ll have an HTC Thunderbolt there for $699.99. However, you can’t check out due to no plans being available for this phone.

[via Android Community]

This tip was sent to Android Community by what we call a “semi-anonymous” tipper as they’ve left a name, but it really appears more like they’d like to remain namelsss, and have thusly left a false hook. For the sake of the conversation, their name was catalase. We very much appreciate tips like this when they end up being true, but hiss and boo at falsifiers when they provide fakie shots. In this case, we’re guessing it’s more along the true lines as the date is so close to what we’ve heard already that it seems impossible that someone would fake such a thing.

While you’re waiting for this phone to come out, have a look at the coverage we’ve already got here at SlashGear and take a peek at our much closer look at the phone from way back at CES 2011. Here a nice lady will courteously show us around the phone and have a heck of a time getting the battery cover off with her fine and fancy nails. We like your nails, miss! Be careful with them!

[via Android Community] — thanks again, catalase!

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The image shows the HTC Thunderbolt advertised as $249.99 with a new two-year contract through Verizon. Regular price without contract is set at $749.99.

That is quite a huge difference in price and should keep most customers seeking the HTC Thunderbolt locked into the Verizon contract.

[Via Android Community]

Video after the cut

That includes a sizable 4.3-inch touchscreen, and cameras on both the front and rear of the handset. There’s also Android 2.2.1 Froyo, 40GB of onboard storage and of course LTE for high-speed data connectivity (though voice calls still use 3G). Still, no sign of a specific launch date at this stage; Wirefly only say it’ll be coming soon.

[via Android Community]

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According to the same store, the ThunderBolt is set to launch on Valentine’s Day, February 14, the day that MWC 2011 officially begins. In-between there’ll be a new Samsung Presto “Hotspot”, which sounds like a MiFi-style mobile hotspot from the company.

Motorola is yet to confirm European release dates for the XOOM, though a WiFi-only version is expected in some regions come April. The initial model will have Verizon 3G, with a 4G version to follow.

[via Android Community]

Recent rumors suggest that the ThunderBolt will launch with mobile hotspot functionality. Since some testers have drained the 5 GB monthly allowance in as little as 32 minutes, it won’t be hard to blow through the cap on a laptop or tablet.

The ThunderBolt will also be Verizon’s first phone to have functional simultaneous voice and data over 3G.

[Via Android Community]

We’d originally heard that mobile hotspot functionality would not be in at launch. But there’s apparently been some sort of turn-around at Big Red. “While it was not previously communicated that the HTC Thunderbolt was not Mobile Hotspot capable, at launch, customers will in fact be able to turn their HTC Thunderbolt into a wireless hotspot.”

This leaked internal document also echoes the rumor that the ThunderBolt would have simultaneous voice & data even while not in LTE mode. That fact would not be advertised, due to the service not meeting Verizon’s quality standards. This document re-asserts that claim in the same words. Which is pretty compelling evidence of veracity.

Verizon employees started training on the ThunderBolt last week. Employees who attended report the device having simultaneous voice and data capabilities. There have been rumors that the ThunderBolt will see a February 14th launch at MWC 2011.

For an in-depth look at the ThunderBolt, check out our hands-on or this side-by-side with the iPhone 4 and Bionic.

[Via Android Community]

According to the leak, Verizon “cannot promise the experience will be one that is consistent with [the] brand” and so are advising sales people to “not reference this functionality as a benefit during your conversations with customers.” As sales strategies go this seems somewhat bizarre, but we can understand Verizon not wanting to overshadow its other devices – including the new CDMA iPhone – with a single HTC handset.

[via Android Community]

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There’s also no dual-core processor, with the HTC instead using a single-core 1GHz chip that scored 1926 in Quadrant benchmarking. There’s 8GB of onboard storage – plus a 32GB microSD card that will apparently be bundled – and DLNA support along with HTC’s Navigation app.

An 8-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera round out the main specs, but we imagine we’ll hear all the details tomorrow. Unfortunately it seems LTE takes its toll on the battery; the leaky source who loaned the handset said battery life “does not seem too good”.

[via Android Community]

Update: Something to be cautious about: the MSM8960 supposedly found inside the Thunderbolt isn’t expected to arrive until 2012. Either the chip has been mis-labeled, or it’s a sign that this isn’t entirely legit.

Other specs include a 4.3-inch display, Android 2.3 Gingerbread as the OS and 1080p Full HD video recording and playback. There’s also supposedly a microSDXC memory card slot, capable of boosting the Thunderbolt’s 16GB of internal memory with up to 128GB cards.

We’ll have to wait and see whether these ambitious specs pan out when Verizon announce the Thunderbolt at CES 2011 next week. Still, if true then it looks to be a worthy contender to Tegra 2 rivals such as the LG Optimus 2X.

• 4.3-inch display 16.78 million colors
• Android OS 2.3 Gingerbread
• Qualcomm MSM8960 dual-core processor 1.2 GHz
• 8-megapixel camera (primary)
• 5-megapixel camera (secondary)
• 1080p Full HD video recording and playback
• GSM / Quad Band | GPRS / EDGE / 3G / HSPA / LTE
• WLAN 802.11 b / g / n
• Kickstand
• Bluetooth
• 16GB Internal Memory | Expansion per 128GB microSDXC
• Battery 1800 mAh

[via BestBoyz and via Android Community]

What we can see from the images, though, is that the Thunderbolt will have a bit of a secret behind the kickstand. Namely, a pretty large speaker. So, like the HD7 which launched not too long ago, will the Thunderbolt have a main drive towards media, and playing it back on your handset? We know that HTC will be showing off the handset at CES 2011, and with that “with Google” logo right on the kickstand, we’re hoping to see that there won’t be any Bing-specific application on this device.

[via Android Community]