Thinking of getting something for that special someone, this Valentine’s day? How about a 4G smartphone from T-Mobile? According to these screen shots (and past rumors), T-Mobile will be holding a one-day sale on February 11th, dedicated to all the love birds out there. But this is not just any sale – customers will be [...]]]>

Thinking of getting something for that special someone, this Valentine’s day? How about a 4G smartphone from T-Mobile? According to these screen shots (and past rumors), T-Mobile will be holding a one-day sale on February 11th, dedicated to all the love birds out there. But this is not just any sale – customers will be able to purchase any 4G device for free after mail-in rebate.

This is after signing a 2-year contract, of course. This deal is applicable to both Classic and Value plan subscribers, which happens to be a first for these “All Hands Day” sales. Such sales were only applicable to Value plan subscribers before, making this a much more enticing offer.

According to TmoNews‘ sources, those that pick the Classic rate plans will have to pay for the device’s usual subsidized price and receive the full amount via a mail-in rebate card. Value plan subscribers will get the same treatment after paying the down payment. (Upgrade rules and migration fees apply).

If you have been looking to get a new 4G smartphone from T-Mobile, we suggest you circle February 11th in your calendar. The offer applies to all 4G devices, including tablets like the LG G-Slate and the Huawei Springboard. There is a small catch for some devices, though. It seems like top-tier smartphones, such as the HTC Amaze and Samsung Galaxy S II might require a subscription to a 5 GB data plan.

All T-Mobile retail stores, customer service and authorized dealers will be participating on this offer. If interested, you might want to wait for the official announcement for more details, which is rumored to be as soon as this afternoon (according to the sources).

Let’s sit tight and wait to hear official details. Is anyone taking advantage of this sale? And just out of curiosity – will anyone actually purchase a phone for a Valentine’s day gift?

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Update: T-Mobile announcement

As expected, T-Mobile has just gone ahead and released information about their Valentine’s one-day sale. The information goes along with most of what we already knew. Among the most important details, though, the press release includes information about the minimum requirements for data plans:

• Voice Phones: 200 MB data plan
• Most smartphones: 2 GB data plan
• 42 Mbps devices: 5 GB data plan

For more information, check out the press release or go to T-Mobile’s official site.

There you go, guys! It is official, so start making your plans!

If you own the Sprint Nexus S 4G and are waiting on the official update to Android 4.0, then we have some good news for you. A new internal testing ROM was just spotted on Google’s servers that updates the Nexus S 4G to Android version 4.0.4, build number IMM26.

The file was quickly pulled [...]]]>

If you own the Sprint Nexus S 4G and are waiting on the official update to Android 4.0, then we have some good news for you. A new internal testing ROM was just spotted on Google’s servers that updates the Nexus S 4G to Android version 4.0.4, build number IMM26.

The file was quickly pulled after it was spotted, but if you are adventurous you can head over to xda-developers and grab a mirrored copy. I’d normally post a guide with instructions for the manual update, but since the official file has been removed from Google’s servers we just suggest the average user wait it out.

Reports suggest that this version was signed with release keys, which likely means it’s we will see the official update in the coming weeks. I’ve been using Android 4.0 on my T-Mobile Nexus S that I gave to a family member and its been running great so far. If you try out this leaked software on your Sprint Nexus S 4G, let us know how it performed in the comments below.

The Xperia Arc was one of Sony Ericsson’s best selling smartphones this year, so it’s no surprise the company is gearing up for the sequel. The original device never appeared on any of the major US carriers, but now that Sony has purchased Ericsson’s stake and decided to focus on high-end phones, next year could [...]]]>

The Xperia Arc was one of Sony Ericsson’s best selling smartphones this year, so it’s no surprise the company is gearing up for the sequel. The original device never appeared on any of the major US carriers, but now that Sony has purchased Ericsson’s stake and decided to focus on high-end phones, next year could be a different story.

We have already seen a handful of Xperia Arc HD (codename Nozomi) leaks appear across the web and now GSMArena delivers the clearest shots of the device yet. Last time we saw the Arc HD in white and now it appears in black, so expect multiple color options at launch. The hardware specs were previously leaked, but the new source confirms earlier rumors.

Rumored specs of the Xperia Arc HD include:

• Android 2.3 Gingerbread
• 4.3 inch 720p HD display
• 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 CPU
• 12 MP camera with FullHD recording
• 1 GB RAM, 16 or 32 GB internal storage
• HDMI port

New details revealed in the latest leak include a lack of microSD card and a non-user-replaceable battery. There is also still no mention of NFC support.

Current test units are still running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but there’s a small chance the device could launch with Android 4.0. As Nick pointed out earlier, Sony Ericsson was the first handset maker to demo a non-Nexus phone with Android 2.3 at CES 2011, so maybe they could be first with Android 4.0 at CES 2012.

Overall it looks like a nice device, but I don’t see anything too special that makes it stand out from the crowd. Most of the high end devices now feature 720p HD displays and dual-core processors, but the 12 MP camera would be one of the higher spec’d for Android phones.

Look for more updates in the coming weeks when we head to Vegas again for CES.

Earlier this month we learned of the HTC Ville when the specs were leaked and today we get out first look at the device thanks to some renders shared by Evan Blass of PocketNow. As previously reported, the HTC Ville is rumored to feature a metal unibody design under 8mm thick, which would [...]]]>

Earlier this month we learned of the HTC Ville when the specs were leaked and today we get out first look at the device thanks to some renders shared by Evan Blass of PocketNow. As previously reported, the HTC Ville is rumored to feature a metal unibody design under 8mm thick, which would make it HTC’s thinnest handset to date.

In addition to being the thinnest Android phone from HTC, it should also be the fastest. The Ville is rumored to be one of the first devices with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon S4 processor. The dual-core Snapdragon S4 will feature Qualcomm’s new Krait core that offers a 60% performance increase compared to the existing Scorpion micro-architecture found in the Snapdragon S1, S2, and S3. A new Adreno 225 GPU will also provide 50% faster graphics performance.

Rumored specs of the HTC Ville include:

• Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
• HTC Sense UI 4.0
• 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display
• 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 (MSM8960)
• 8-megapixel backside-illuminated camera with 1080p HD video capture
• Beats Audio
• Metal construction case and just 8mm thick
• 1650 mAh battery
• No NFC support

Expect HTC to debut the Ville at Mobile World Congress in late February. If the rumored release date holds true, we should see the HTC Ville in stores by April. Possible carriers in the US include AT&T and Verizon (and maybe Sprint?), since the Snapdragon S4 will be the first system-on-a-chip to feature an integrated multimode LTE modem.

If you’ve been waiting on the second-generation of 4G LTE phones that are thinner and offer longer battery life, then pencil in the HTC Ville at the top of your wish list.

We have been waiting in awe for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, as well as some other devices that will blow our minds. Next year is going to be quite an exciting one for the Android world, though. As always, technology does not stop evolving, and today’s devices will look like nothing compared to what [...]]]>

We have been waiting in awe for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, as well as some other devices that will blow our minds. Next year is going to be quite an exciting one for the Android world, though. As always, technology does not stop evolving, and today’s devices will look like nothing compared to what is coming.

Engadget just got a hold of some details and a rendered image for a device that we have not yet heard of. This superphone is code-named the HTC Zeta. As you can see in the image, its design is quite interesting. The dimensions are quite impressive for what the device is claimed to pack. Measuring 109.8 x 60.9 x 9.8mm, and weighing 5.15 ounces, the HTC Zeta will be relatively thin and reasonably light. Its sharp, thin edges make it look like quite an elegant device, though.

Sure it looks great, but the aesthetics are not what have us surprised. It is the rumored specs that have us looking forward to seeing more details about this beast. The device is rumored to come packed with Ice Cream Sandwich (with some form of HTC Sense), a quad-core 2.5 GHz APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 processor, 1 GB of RAM, a 4.5-inch 720p HD display, 32 GB of internal storage, Beats Audio, Buetooth 4.0, an 8MP reafacing camera (dual LED flash, 1080p video) and a 1.3MP front-facing camera. All of this would be powered by a 1,830mAh battery.

Needless to say that these specs are quite impressive, especially that 2.5 GHz processor. In fact, that sounds a little too nice, and we should not be expecting a device like this to be released any time soon. In fact, Qualcomm does mention that their next-generation Krait core will be able of such clock speeds, but we do not expect such processors to be available until late 2012 at the earliest. A more likely launch window would be 2013.

As always, let’s take all of this information with a grain of salt. One thing is for sure, though. It will take a very long time for this device to be released if those specs happen to be real. Leaks of a device a year before its release are definitely rare, so it is fair game to suspect that some of the rumored specs may be wrong. Either way, this sure is a good-looking smartphone! Let’s see what next year holds for us! Things are looking good, aren’t they? Personally, this device looks great!

During NVIDIA’s recent Q3 earnings call, their CEO boasted about the number of quad-core devices their partners would bring to market soon. Jen-Hsun Huang said, “We have more design wins in Tegra 3 today than we had at Tegra 2. We have more design wins, more devices, more OEMs.”

We already know about [...]]]>

During NVIDIA’s recent Q3 earnings call, their CEO boasted about the number of quad-core devices their partners would bring to market soon. Jen-Hsun Huang said, “We have more design wins in Tegra 3 today than we had at Tegra 2. We have more design wins, more devices, more OEMs.”

We already know about the ASUS Transformer Prime launching in December, but where are all these other devices he’s talking about? Over the weekend, a trio of quad-core tablets leaked out.

Lenovo

First we have Richard Lai of Engadget who reports Lenovo is working on a Tegra 3-powered tablet with Android 4.0 that they plan to launch this year. The device is rumored to have a 10.1-inch display, quad-core 1.6 GHz Tegra 3 processor, 2 GB of 1,600MHz DDR3 RAM, back-facing camera of unknown resolution, a “Special Fusion-Skin Body”, USB host socket and a fingerprint scanner.

With a Tegra 3 clocked at 1.6 GHz and 2 GB of RAM, this should be the fastest quad-core device we’ve seen yet. Both of those specs are a little suspect though. Engadget says the DDR3 RAM is clocked at 1600 MHz and the Tegra 3 product page says it supports DDR3 speeds up to 1500 MHz. The Transformer Prime also runs at 1.3 GHz in quad-core mode and up to 1.4 GHz in single-core mode, so it’s surprising to see Lenovo offer a device at 1.6 GHz.

HTC

Next up we have Digitimes citing a Chinese-language Commercial Times report that says HTC will unveil a quad-core tablet at next year’s Mobile World Congress in late February. We previously heard that the HTC Edge would be the company’s first Tegra 3 phone, so it’s not that big a surprise that they’re also working on a quad-core tablet.

Acer

Finally we have the Italian blog NotebookItalia reporting Acer will upgrade their Iconia tablet line to Tegra 3. Another Italian site HDBlog.it says the features should be similar to the Tegra 2-powered Acer Iconia A500 Tab, but a few design changes will be made to upgrade the look. Expect Acer to launch two Iconia Tabs with Tegra 3 processors — the WiFi-only Iconia Tab A510 and the 3G-enabled Iconia Tab A511.

In the midst of all the pacing around and hair pulling in desperation to find out when the Samsung Galaxy Nexus will be released, a small spark of hope has just hit our inbox. A Verizon tipster sent in a screenshot that proves device training has begun (also includes the Rezound).

This is a [...]]]>

In the midst of all the pacing around and hair pulling in desperation to find out when the Samsung Galaxy Nexus will be released, a small spark of hope has just hit our inbox. A Verizon tipster sent in a screenshot that proves device training has begun (also includes the Rezound).

This is a normal sign of a device to be released soon, but we still do not know the exact date. It could take a week, two weeks, or maybe more (if we are in bad luck). We certainly do not expect the device to be delayed past November, though.

This unbearable waiting game should not be lasting too much longer. What do you guys say? Are you ready for some ICS action?

Thanks, Anonymous!

ASUS finally revealed the Transformer Prime specs this week, but unfortunately the release date was pushed back to December. If you are patiently waiting to pick up the first Tegra 3-powered device, then you might want to head over to Brazilian blog ZTOP for some early hands-on treatment of the world’s first [...]]]>

ASUS finally revealed the Transformer Prime specs this week, but unfortunately the release date was pushed back to December. If you are patiently waiting to pick up the first Tegra 3-powered device, then you might want to head over to Brazilian blog ZTOP for some early hands-on treatment of the world’s first quad-core Android tablet.

Henry Martin of ZTOP notes the three things that surprised him the most were the “loud, clear, share” sound, ultra-slim design (only 8.3mm thick), and the overall speed of the device. It’s nice to read he was impressed with the performance because the engineering sample he played with still had Android 3.2 and we expect even greater performance enhancements when the device is updated to Android 4.0.

Hit up the source link for a handful of pictures and a couple of quick videos. Does the Transformer Prime look like it will live up to your expectations?

ASUS already told us about their Transformer Prime launch event on November 9, but many of us are still waiting to find out exactly when the world’s first quad-core Android tablet will go on sale in the US. According to the latest rumor from Fuad Abazovic of Fudzilla, we should expect to [...]]]>

ASUS already told us about their Transformer Prime launch event on November 9, but many of us are still waiting to find out exactly when the world’s first quad-core Android tablet will go on sale in the US. According to the latest rumor from Fuad Abazovic of Fudzilla, we should expect to see the Transformer Prime go on sale “a few weeks after” the device is unveiled in Taiwan this week.

Fudzilla goes on to report that the Transformer Prime will be a priority product for the US market with other territories like “EU, Australia and probably even Asia” to follow at a later date.

Considering that we were first expecting Tegra 3 tablets in August (then September, then October and now November), I wouldn’t be surprised if “a few weeks after” actually translates into retail availability in December. Either way, those who are willing to spend the rumored $499 will be enjoying the fastest Android tablet this Christmas.

Who’s saving up for the Transformer Prime?

Last week US Cellular announced the readiness of their 4G LTE network, and today we learned of the first Android devices that might appear on it in the first quarter of 2012. The guys at Phandroid have obtained a leaked slide that indicates US Cellular plans to launch the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 [...]]]>

Last week US Cellular announced the readiness of their 4G LTE network, and today we learned of the first Android devices that might appear on it in the first quarter of 2012. The guys at Phandroid have obtained a leaked slide that indicates US Cellular plans to launch the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 LTE and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus LTE beginning in Q1.

The initial rollout of 4G LTE service includes select cities from Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma. Specific markets named in the press release include Milwaukee, Madison and Racine, Wisconsin; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Greenville, North Carolina.

No details were provided on what kinds of 4G LTE speeds we should expect, but I’m guessing US Cellular will reveal the full details at CES in January.

Customers hoping to see the Galaxy Nexus on carriers other than Verizon should be pleased with this news. US Cellular was included in Samsung’s sign-up page for the Galaxy Nexus, along with six other US carriers. At this point it still appears Verizon will have some kind of limited exclusive on the Galaxy Nexus LTE, but it should appear on multiple carriers early next year.