Android Dose

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Official US Release Date!

Aaron — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:48:08 +0000

Samsung has really stepped up its game with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, starting as just another tablet this offering from Sammy looks to be one that will put them at the head of the Honeycomb Tablet game… Launching June 8th (Exclusively at the Union Station Best Buy in NYC and available Nationwide Starting June 17th) the Tab 10.1 took to heart the features announced for the iPad2 and decided to change their initial offering as it was shown at MWC and CTIA. The Tab 10.1 has a 7000mAh battery which should give plenty of usable time, It is also launching with Honeycomb 3.1 the absolute latest available version of Android. Its also launching as a WiFi only tablet like everyone wanted with the Original Galaxy Tab. There will be 3G versions and it looks like Verizon is also planning to offer a 4G/LTE Model as well.

Here is the Press Release from Samsung:

Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, World’s Thinnest Mobile Tablet,

Makes Official Landing in U.S.

Premium Android Honeycomb Tablet with Ultra-slim, Lightweight Design and Brilliant

10-inch Touchscreen Available Exclusively at Best Buy Union Square Store in New York City Starting June 8; Available Nationwide Starting June 17
DALLAS, June 2, 2011 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.[1], and Samsung Electronics America, a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced the upcoming retail availability of the Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, starting June 8. The WiFi-enabled tablet measures at just 8.6 millimeters slim, making it the thinnest mobile tablet currently available in the world. The 32GB version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition will be available for $599, while the 16GB version of the device will be available for $499.

A limited quantity of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition will be available for purchase exclusively at the Best Buy Union Square store in New York City on June 8. Best Buy customers may also pre-order the Galaxy Tab 10.1 online or in-store beginning that day.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by Android™ 3.1, Honeycomb offering faster and smoother transitions between different applications, more intuitive navigation to and from home screens and broader support of USB accessories, external keyboards, joysticks and gamepads.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the thinnest mobile tablet currently available in the world, measuring in at an ultra-slim 8.6 millimeters. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also boasts an incredibly light weight of just 1.25 pounds (565 grams) for outstanding mobility and comfort in the user’s hands.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is designed with a brilliant 10.1-inch HD touchscreen display with WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution delivering vibrant colors and crisp clarity. This expansive screen is centered inside a narrow bezel to enhance the wide viewing angle.

“Ensuring that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 launched with Android 3.1 Honeycomb was part of our constant commitment to meeting the needs of our customers,” said Dale Sohn, President and CEO of Samsung Mobile. “The Galaxy Tab 10.1’s ultra-thin design and 10-inch touchscreen are impressive differentiators in the tablet market place. We’re going to make the Galaxy Tab 10.1 even more powerful, entertaining and secure through a series of upgrades coming to this device.”

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will receive these new upgrades through a software update that customers can access over the air in the near future. Those upgrades are currently scheduled to include:

FEATURES/SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH FUTURE SOFTWARE UPGRADE

Customized User Experience “Samsung TouchWiz UX”

Samsung’s TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu for customizing the home screen of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 with digital pictures, favorite Web sites and social network feeds.

In addition, the TouchWiz UX includes a “Mini Apps” tray of commonly used features such as task manager, calendar and music player which can be launched while other major applications are already in use.

Samsung Media Hub

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 software upgrade will introduce the evolution of Samsung’s popular movie and TV content service, known as Media Hub. Media Hub has been redesigned with a new user interface for even easier downloads of rented or purchased content. The new version of Media Hub also includes an HD Extender which allows the user to playback Media Hub content on TV through an HDMI cable from the Galaxy Tab 10.1 dock or adaptor.

Readers Hub & Social Hub

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also gain access to Samsung’s Readers Hub service, which is a robust library filled with more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspapers and 2,300 magazines. Also, the software upgrade will install Samsung’s Social Hub service, which aggregates email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface.

Versatile Content Sharing

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 will also receive Samsung’s Allshare service, for seamless content transfer between the tablet and other DLNA-enabled devices such as HDTV’s, monitors and digital cameras. The software upgrade will also transform the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 into a device capable of accepting streaming content from a TV to the tablet itself.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES AVAILABLE AT PRODUCT LAUNCH

Impressive Speed, Power & Battery Life

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download speeds and reduce data transfer times. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 also includes a Nvidia Tegra 1GHz dual core application processor for powerful gaming and multimedia performance. The Tab’s ultra-thin design does not sacrifice battery life, thanks to a 7000 mAh battery providing up to 9 hours of continuous use on a single charge^[2].

Full Adobe Flash Player Compatibility

The device offers extensive Web browsing access through Adobe® Flash® Player compatibility. Flash Player delivers beautiful HD video, faster graphics rendering, and high performance on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and is designed to take advantage of native device capabilities — enabling richer, more immersive user experiences.

Optimal Enterprise Solutions

In addition, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 integrates several enterprise solutions to provide support for exchange device management policies, improve the security of data and services maintained on the tablet and meet IT guidelines for remote device access. The enterprise solutions include:

On-device encryption of user data

Cisco AnyConnect SSL VPN

F5 SSL VPN

Enhanced Exchange ActiveSync Support

Quality Cameras and Sound

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 features a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera providing smooth video chat capabilities and seamless 1080p HD video playback^[3]. High quality speakers are positioned on the right and left sides of the device for a rich, deep audio experience.

Google™ Mobile Services

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is preloaded with the full suite of Google Mobile Services including access to more than 60,000 Android Market™ applications for Galaxy Tab 10.1^[4], Gmail™, Google Search™, Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D maps, and Google Talk™ with video and voice chat.

Availability & Pricing

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition will be available exclusively starting June 8 at the Best Buy Union Square location in New York City. Starting June 17, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available at Best Buy online and in-store along with Fry’s Electronics, Amazon.com, Micro Center, Tiger Direct and Newegg. These retail outlets will have the 32GB version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition available for $599, and the 16GB version of the device will be available for $499. In addition, the WiFi version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available through Sprint starting mid-summer 2011. Visit www.samsung.com for additional details.

¹Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2011 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.

²Battery power consumption depends on factors such as network configuration, signal strength, operating temperature, features selected, vibrate mode, backlight settings, browser use, and frequency of data and other application usage patterns.

³1080p video playback on an HD TV or other 1080p HD device.

⁴Based on a statistical analysis of existing Android Market™ applications

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning, digital consumer electronics and home appliance products, including HDTVs, home theater systems, MP3 players, digital imaging products, refrigerators and washing machines. A recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology, Samsung is the HDTV market leader in the U.S. Please visit www.samsung.com for more information.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, semiconductor chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Android, Google, Android Market, Gmail, Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Talk are trademarks of Google, Inc.

Adobe and Flash are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

Shift in focus – [Wanted] Opinion Columnists

Aaron — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 20:52:12 +0000

AndroidDose.com is changing its focus, we will still bring you news and reviews as they come in but lets be honest, there are a billion Android news sites and more popping up everyday. I say if you want the latest in Android news you should head over to AndroidGuys.com or AndroidAndMe.com those 2 sites have the news game on lock down and post some really good articles! So since I feel that competition is just a little crowded in the sea of blogs I am changing the focus of AndroidDose.com to a community sourced opinion and editorial site. What does this mean to you? Our articles remain the intellectual property of their respective author and that ANYONE that wants to share their opinion can contact me and we will get your article published for everyone to see. We will from time to time continue to post news and reviews though as it has in recent months will not be our main source of articles. I hope to grow this to involve many different authors with varying opinions from around the world. Is there a catch? NOPE!!! ok well there might be one… I from time to time use some explicit language and would like to see that any authors limit (notice I didn’t say eliminate) explicit language. I will not edit articles so your bad grammar and structure will remain your own unless you ask me or my associate editor to review it, in which case you will be required to “approve” it before it is published, As I said the articles will remain the authors intellectual property. So please step up to the podium and take the mic the Android Community wants to hear what you have to say!

You can contact me on Twitter @AndroidDose or via email at aaronb at androiddose.com

My Thoughts on AT&T-Mobile

mardenator — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 01:06:35 +0000

If you haven’t heard about the AT&T/Tmobile merge, then I advise you to crawl out from that rock under which you are hiding. In a recent announcement, AT&T plans to purchase T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for a whopping $39 billion. Now, before I get into my rant (you’ve been warned), I have to stress that this deal is by no means final. It has to clear the Department of Justice as well as the FCC, and then there’s all the paperwork and proper proceedings that have to take place. Bottom line, it could take up to a year for this merge to happen, that is, if it clears the aforementioned departments. With that being said, i’ve had some time to collect my thoughts after the initial shock of the announcement, and I’ve come to a few conclusions..

First, we have to look at it from all perspectives. From AT&T’s viewpoint, it’s a genius move. As much as I hate AT&T, I have to admit that this is a very smart business move on their part. It takes months, sometimes years to gain approval to build new cell towers, and AT&T didn’t want to wait for it. They found the most simple solution possible: they bought towers. Since AT&T and Tmobile are both GSM carriers, it was a no-brainer for AT&T to purchase Tmo, who we’ve noticed has been struggling financially as of late. All AT&T has to do is reconfigure the Tmobile towers, and they’ve got a lot more coverage and the potential for faster speeds. I hate AT&T with a passion, but I must give them their dues here.

Now, from the most common perspective (and mine, I might add), the current Tmobile customer. I, for one, am trying to stay optimistic. Maybe AT&T will change for the better through this deal. Maybe their services will improve, and they’ll grow in a positive way. Obviously, this is not as likely as AT&T staying the same, and just gaining some more towers, but I’ll let you sort that out for yourself. So, as a Tmo customer, what do you do? Stay with AT&T/Tmobile, or head to another carrier, like Sprint or Verizon? Well, that all depends on you. I know some Android enthusiasts who are already planning the move to another carrier, and I can’t say I blame them. While Tmobile is trying its best to ensure a smooth transaction for customers, I doubt it’ll be as easy as they’re making it out to be. Tmobile phones that use Tmo 3G won’t get 3G after the merge, meaning they’ll have to switch to an AT&T 3G (or 4G) phone. This is not a popular aspect among Tmobile customers, myself included.

And finally, we have to look at it from the CDMA carriers’ points of view. At the moment, Verizon is the largest carrier, with AT&T trailing, and Sprint in 3rd. If this deal goes through, AT&T will vastly increase the size of its network, surpassing Verizon. Vzw and Sprint have to be worried about their market shares, and how the merge will force them to step up their game to stay in it. Of course, the HTC Thunderbolt is certainly luring in many Android users from Tmobile to Verizon lately, so don’t count the CDMA carriers out just yet.

Now, what do I think about the merge? I hate it, plain and simple. I’ve been a Tmo user for nearly 4 years now, and I’ve never had a single complaint. Why? Because Tmobile offers the best customer service, bar none. That’s why I’ve stuck with them all these years. You won’t find quality customer service like that anywhere else. And now, Tmobile is being bought out by the company that’s notorious for terrible customer service. That’s not something that will brighten my day. But like I said, I’m being optimistic. There’s a chance that AT&T will learn from it’s restrictive mistakes and be more carefree with Android. And with the addition of all those Tmobile towers, AT&T’s network can only get stronger from here. What are my plans as a Tmobile customer? For now, I’m staying where I am. If things take a turn for the worse, my contract runs out in November, at which point I’ll move to Sprint.

So, all in all, a smart move for AT&T, sucks for Tmo customers, and worries CDMA carriers. Any questions?

T-Mobile Announces Sidekick 4G – Android powered Samsung device sporting 4G Speeds

Aaron — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:25:15 +0000

According to a late night press release T-Mobile has joined forces with Samsung to deliver yet another Samsung mobile device powered by Android. Sadly thought the Sidekick 4G seems to be lacking many of the newer features we are seeing in other manufacturers offerings. Sporting Android 2.2 and a Single Core Hummingbird processor and a small 3.5″ screen. To me it doesn’t seem like a lot of innovation except for the 4G Speeds, even though Samsung just released the Galaxy S 4G on T-Mobile recently. Well here is the original press release.

T-Mobile Sidekick Is Reborn

New Sidekick 4G is a Lightning-Fast and Stylish Communication Hub,

Delivering Evolved Messaging and Entertainment at 4G Speeds

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

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

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

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

Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile, said, “We are proud that T-Mobile selected Samsung to help create the next-generation Sidekick and carry the iconic Sidekick brand and device to the next level. Samsung redesigned the new Sidekick 4G with our best-in-class hardware, combined with T-Mobile’s 4G network speeds, the Android operating system, and unique messaging and entertainment features, to make this a perfect match for both loyal Sidekick fans and new Sidekick owners.”

The new Sidekick 4G also comes preloaded with Facebook® and Twitter™ applications, and provides easy interaction with customers’ social networks by allowing them to update their status from the notification pane and browse their feeds from the home screen. They have the ability to sync their social network contacts to the phone’s address book, which lets them post to their friends’ walls or comment on their status. And multitasking is easier than ever with the Sidekick 4G’s jump key, an easy-to-access physical button that enables customers to quickly switch between active applications, even during a phone call, or assign keyboard shortcuts to their favorite functions or applications.

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

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

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

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

Web Comic pokes fun at our new digital life

Aaron — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:50:52 +0000

The widely popular WebComic XKCD has a great comic today asking the age old question “Where is my flying car?”

No seriously I kinda have to agree, Don’t you?

No its not really news, No its not really Android specific, But we all need a laugh now and then and who doesn’t like the occasional Angry Birds reference

[Contest] To Celebrate 1000 Followers on Twitter [WINNER!]

Aaron — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:59:48 +0000

[UPDATE] We have a Winner!!!! Long time follower lVloose!!!

We recently pass 1000 followers on twitter and to celebrate we are giving away $25 worth of AndroidSwag. Its simple to participate simply follow both AndroidSwag and AndroidDose on Twitter and leave a comment below stating what you would get from AndroidSwag with the $25. The Contest will run until Midnight EST Wednesday Feb 16th. A Random commenter who is also following both AndroidSwag and AndroidDose will be chosen and notified via Twitter the winner will have 48hrs to respond via Twitter or Email to claim the prize.

T-Mobile Details LG G-Slate and Samsung Galaxy S 4G

Aaron — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:47:24 +0000

Samsung sent out a press release late last night detailing the LG G-Slate coming soon to a T-Mobile near you! Finally we are getting some specs! The Slate will feature Honeycomb, as well as 3D capabilities apparently including a rear facing stereoscopic camera for shooting 3D videos as well as access to T-Mobiles HSPA+/4G network. It also features 32GB of internal memory (Nice touch I must say) and an 8.9″ screen as well as NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 Dual core processor. They don’t mention a speed rating but be sure its a dual core 1Ghz at this point.

T-Mobile also announced the Samsung Galaxy S 4G (which we all know is basically a Vibrant with 4G and a Front Facing Camera but I’ve included the both press releases below)

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

T-Mobile expands America’s Largest 4G Network to eight new

metropolitan areas in South and Midwest

BELLEVUE, Wash., and DALLAS — Feb. 2, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.¹, today announced the anticipated February availability of the Galaxy S™ 4G, exclusively from T-Mobile. According to T-Mobile, the Galaxy S 4G will be the fastest smartphone running on America’s Largest 4G Network™². The Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile’s first smartphone capable of delivering theoretical peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps, offers enhanced mobile experiences and unparalleled entertainment including mobile HD TV³ through T-Mobile TV, the ACADEMY AWARD® Nominated film INCEPTION, and T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik™ — delivered at 4G speeds on its 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen display.

T-Mobile also announced the expansion of America’s largest 4G network into more than 100 major metropolitan areas, reaching more than 200 million people nationwide. In addition to expanding its 4G footprint, T-Mobile also has aggressive plans to double the speed of its 4G network in 2011, and the company expects that 140 million Americans in 25 major metropolitan areas will have access to these increased 4G speeds by midyear.

“The Galaxy S 4G pushes the envelope by reaping the benefits of our network’s unprecedented speeds and by offering groundbreaking entertainment experiences,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “We are excited to continue to expand our portfolio of 4G devices that enable our customers to have access to unique and compelling features and an optimal 4G experience.”

“The Galaxy S 4G offers customers Samsung’s core premium product investments to speed, screen and content,” said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer, Samsung Mobile. “Galaxy S 4G is T-Mobile’s fastest smartphone and offers Samsung’s brilliant Super AMOLED display and rich multimedia features for premium movie and TV content.

Through the delivery of faster speeds comes an enhanced experience when viewing video entertainment over the Web using services such as YouTube. In addition T-Mobile TV, a preloaded application, offers consumers access to live and on-demand mobile HD TV on T-Mobile’s 4G network, including free programming from select stations like ABC News NOW, FOX Sports, PBS Kids and Azteca America.

To further enhance the entertainment package on the Galaxy S 4G, T-Mobile has preloaded, at no additional cost to consumers, Warner Bros. Pictures’ ACADEMY AWARD® Nominated film INCEPTION which is nominated for Best Picture, Best Writing (Original Screenplay), Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Music (Original Score), Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects. Customers also have the option to rent or purchase their favorite movies and TV programs directly from the Samsung Media Hub, which features a robust collection of new releases and TV shows.

The Galaxy S 4G’s blazing-fast speeds will make sharing memories via e-mail, social networks or video quick and easy. For example, the preloaded T-Mobile Video Chat application powered by Qik enables customers to share any moment with loved ones virtually whenever and wherever they want through T-Mobile’s network or Wi-Fi. Using either the front-facing or the rear camera, which features a 720p HD camcorder, paired with Video Chat allows customers to hold video conversations with friends and family who have a compatible mobile device.

Featured as a pre-installed application, doubleTwist® with AirSync™ provides customers with a useful and easy way to auto-sync and back up photos, HD videos and music to and from their home computer. With a Wi-Fi connection, customers can easily sync their media wirelessly and at no additional cost. The doubleTwist Player lets customers enjoy their favorite tunes and videos directly from their phone while on the go. The Galaxy S 4G also comes preloaded with Slacker Radio, offering music fans more than 130 genre stations and ability to create their own custom stations for free.

With a slim and sleek design, the Galaxy S 4G’s 4-inch Super AMOLED touch screen display gives customers a vivid, sharp viewing experience, whether consumers choose to watch a movie or read a book or newspaper with the preloaded Kindle for Android application while on the go. Powered by Android™ 2.2, the Galaxy S 4G is equipped with a speedy Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor, an ST-Ericsson M5720 HSPA+ 4G modem to enable theoretical peak downloads of up to 21 Mbps, a 5 megapixel camera, a pre-installed 16GB microSD memory card, and a 1650 mAh lithium ion battery.

Availability

The Galaxy S 4G is expected to be available to T-Mobile customers in February. Customers can visit http://galaxy-s.t-mobile.com/4G for more information.

Beginning today, T-Mobile’s network will also be delivering 4G speeds to Albany, Augusta, Columbus and Macon, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn., in the South region as well as in Champaign, Ill.; Lansing, Mich.; and Rochester, Minn., in the Midwest.

**************************************************************

T-Mobile G-Slate with Google from LG Press Release:

T-Mobile and LG Mobile Phones Unveil the T-Mobile G-Slate With Google, Delivering a Premium Mobile HD Entertainment Experience on a Tablet

The 4G Android 3.0 Tablet Enables 3D and HD Capture, Viewing and Sharing

BELLEVUE, Wash., and SAN DIEGO — Feb. 2, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and LG Mobile Phones today unveiled their Android™ 3.0 (Honeycomb)-powered tablet, the T-Mobile® G-Slate™ with Google™ by LG. With a brilliant, high-definition (HD) 8.9-inch, 3D-capable multi-touch display, the T-Mobile G-Slate delivers a groundbreaking mobile entertainment experience, including the ability to record 3D and full HD video.

Expected to be available this spring, G-Slate is built for speed on America’s Largest 4G Network™ and is the first tablet in T-Mobile’s pioneering G-series of devices, which began with the world’s first Android-powered smartphone just over two years ago. The first 4G tablet from T-Mobile and LG, the G-Slate is powered by Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), the latest version of Google’s Android platform, which is optimized for tablets. In addition, the G-Slate will be among the first tablets to feature 3D capabilities including built-in support for 3D graphics, enabling consumers to capture and share their own 3D videos and experience 3D HD content right on the device with the aid of 3D glasses.

“The G-Slate represents the next chapter in T-Mobile’s rich history of Android innovation,” said Brad Duea, senior vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. “Tablets enable users to take with them the rich Web and entertainment experiences they have at home, and this will radically shift the way people interact with and consume content while mobile. The G-Slate delivers a powerful combination of premium mobile HD entertainment and T-Mobile’s lightning-fast 4G mobile broadband network.”

“We are excited to introduce the T-Mobile G-Slate by LG, which offers consumers an engaging new way to communicate, entertain and stay connected,” said Tim O’Brien, vice president of marketing for LG Mobile Phones. “Bringing consumers the latest in revolutionary HD tablet technology and an Android platform perfectly optimized for tablet use, G-Slate provides a unique multimedia experience.”

The sleek, lightweight G-Slate can easily be held upright in one hand for reading an eBook or magazine, watching streaming TV or browsing the Web while on the go. Featuring a rear-facing stereoscopic video recorder with 1080p for HD video capture and a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, the G-Slate makes it easy to capture moments on video or with a photo. With the front-facing camera, customers can video chat with friends and family over T-Mobile’s network or Wi-Fi with Google Talk™. The G-Slate also supports 720p HD on-device video playback and HDMI output to show 1080p content on 3-D and HD displays. With a NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor with dual-core CPU and full Adobe® Flash® Player support, the G-Slate enables quick and seamless browsing of rich Web content, multitasking and gaming. The G-Slate will also provide a superior entertainment experience when streaming live TV or downloading music and videos with lightning-fast speed over T-Mobile’s 4G network.

In addition, the G-Slate includes 32 GB of internal memory and features a built-in gyroscope, accelerometer and adaptive lighting for the latest applications and the ultimate gaming experience.

T-Mobile’s 4G network, America’s largest 4G network, has expanded into more than 100 major metropolitan areas, reaching more than 200 million people nationwide. Beginning today, T-Mobile’s network is also delivering 4G speeds to Albany, Augusta, Columbus and Macon, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn., in the South region as well as in Champaign, Ill.; Lansing, Mich.; and Rochester, Minn., in the Midwest. In addition to the expanding its 4G footprint, T-Mobile has aggressive plans to double the speed of its 4G network in 2011. T-Mobile expects that 140 million Americans in 25 major metropolitan areas will have access to these increased 4G speeds by midyear.

Visit the T-Mobile G-Slate product page to register for updates.

Why I Don’t Trust Samsung

mardenator — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 01:22:13 +0000

Samsung has a long history of not updating their hardware. I first noticed it with the Behold 2. Yeah, that stoneage device that was cool for a whole 5 seconds when it came out. They failed to give the thing Donut. Donut. The last time I used Donut was over a year ago, on my G1. Really Samsung? You couldn’t just throw out an OTA?

Their failure progressed and now continues with the Galaxy S line. I’ve heard whispers of some lucky people getting Froyo on their Epic 4G or Fascinate, but there’s no full rollout for Froyo yet. And to top it off, you’re planning to release the Vibrant Plus on T-Mobile, which has everything the original Vibrant didn’t. HSPA+, a front-facing camera, and most importantly, Froyo.

I understand the need to release new and up-to-date devices, but the least you could do is give Galaxy S owners Froyo before letting pictures of the Vibrant Plus leak. My Twitter feed blew up last night with angry Vibrant owners that haven’t gotten Froyo yet and heard about the Plus. I’d be throwing chairs across my living room if I had a Vibrant. Samsung didn’t exactly please a lot of people on this one. When I was writing about the Vibrant Plus, which broke last night, I could tell that it was going to upset a lot of people.

And it did. It does. And it probably will for some time, or at least until Vibrant owners get their precious Froyo. They have every reason to be angry with Samsung. I wouldn’t blame Tmobile too much for this one. They can’t control whether or not a manufacturer’s update is ready for a device.

But as far as Sammy goes, blame them all you want. They screwed up, big time. Too bad Tmobile has to suffer for it by losing so many Vibrant customers.

Review: ADW Ex Launcher

mardenator — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 07:00:12 +0000

Having a rooted phone, I’m constantly looking for a fast home replacement that suits my needs. That being said, I’ve grown very close to ADW Launcher. It’s fast, highly customizable, and easy to use. The developer, known on the web as Anderwebs, has released a faster, even more customizable version of ADW called ADW Ex. If you haven’t heard of it, crawl out from under that rock and search for it in the Android Market. It’s hands-down the best home replacement I’ve ever used, and I’ve used quite a few. Let’s take a look at some of the features of ADW Ex, shall we?

ADW Ex is pretty similar to ADW Launcher, so if you’re familiar with that, there’s not much here that’s new. For starters, you’re given a 4×4 grid for apps, widgets, shortcuts, etc, the same as the stock Android launcher.

The dock on the bottom is a bit different from stock Android. You get the standard desktop dots for jumping from screen to screen. These can be disabled for more dock room, giving you up to 5 spaces for apps or shortcuts. If you drag up on the app drawer icon, you’re given a hidden dock that stores items. This dock is scrollable, meaning you can drag it to the right or left to reveal more space. Standard ADW stuff here.

What really sets ADW Ex apart from the rest is the settings. The transition animations between screens are amazing, to say the least. There are 8 different effects to choose from, and they’re all awesome. They vary from rotating screens to zooming screens and several other effects. Words can’t do these animations justice. It really looks great in person.

You can also change the icons of apps or shortcuts. There’s an option to give the icons a “fancy background”, which is basically a colored square around the icon. You can see what that looks like in the picture above.

Now, to the app drawer. There are several styles you can pick from, including a vertical 4D drawer and a horizontal, Galaxy S style drawer The vertical 4D drawer looks like a 4D cube, obviously. It’s a very cool effect, especially if you have a quality Android phone (i.e. Nexus One, G2).

Recapping, ADW Ex is fast. It’s a very sexy, easy to use, customizable home replacement. I’ve never seen or used another launcher quite like it, and that’s saying something. If you haven’t already installed it, I HIGHLY recommend doing so. It’s only $3.50, which really isn’t that much. And if for nothing else, buy it to support your Android developers. They’re the ones that truly make this platform what it is. Check out some screenshots below. So, are you getting ADW Ex? Already gotten it? Tell us what you think about it in the comments below We look forward to your feedback!

LTE Wins, For Now

mardenator — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:00:05 +0000

I’ve been hearing a lot of talk about Verizon’s LTE 4G network. And yes, I actually said 4G, because it is, despite what some people have told us. I’ve heard some say T-Mobile’s HSPA+ isn’t “4G” because the speeds aren’t quite up to par yet, as with Sprint’s WiMax network. Well, those two may or may not be, but I can assure you that LTE IS 4G. Why? It’s simple: speed. Verizon has what T-mobile and Sprint lack: the actual speed to back up their “theoretical” claims. Average speeds were clocked at 5 to 12 Mbps download, and 2 to 5 Mbps upload.

Sure, Sprint was the first out of the 4G gate with the Evo, and Tmobile soon followed suit with the G2 and MyTouch 4G. But now it’s Verizon’s turn. They have yet to release an LTE device, although I’m willing to bet that may very well change after CES. All assumptions aside, at the moment, Verizon has the fastest 4G network. There’s just one little problem with that: it won’t last very long. True, LTE produces speeds that blow Tmo and Sprint out of the water, but we have to keep in mind that there’s LITTLE TO NO TRAFFIC on Verizon’s LTE network at the moment. The reason for this is obviously stated above, that there’s not an LTE-capable device out there right now save for Verizon’s 4G USB modem.

After CES, expect Verizon’s speeds to drop, fast. Because after CES, there’s most likely going to be several LTE Android phones available on Verizon, and they will sell like hotcakes dipped in gold.

Once the device become popular, Verizon will learn about this magic thing call “traffic” and how it slows down a network. Are they ready for it? We’ll just have to wait and see. But one thing’s for sure: the 4G Wars are on, and Verizon is in the lead.. for now.