His and Hers Android

HTC Jetstream and LG Thrill now available on AT&T

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:58:00 +0000

On Sunday, AT&T officially launched their first 10" Honeycomb tablet and their first glasses-free 3D smartphone. The tablet, the HTC Jetstream, is also the first 10" tablet from HTC and features a dual-core processor and HTC's Scribe pen-input system. It is available now for $699 with a 2-year contract.

The phone, the LG Thrill, is AT&T's first glasses-free 3D smartphone, and only the second one to be available in the US. It features a 4.3" screen, dual core processor, 8GB of storage, 3D screen, and dual cameras for capturing 3D pictures and video. It is available now for $99 on a 2-year contract.

HOLY expensive. Seven hundred dollars WITH a contract? Are they seriously serious? Even the iPad with similar specs is $729 WITHOUT a contract. This sure seems to me like they're trying to keep people from buying the Jetstream and encourage them to buy the iPad instead. Which they probably are. The Thrill, on the other hand, looks really nice. I know lots of people who think the glasses-free 3D is a gimmick, and something they would never want, but I personally think it rocks and would absolutely want it.

I think the Jetstream sounds like a nice tablet, but not that nice. Nowhere near that nice. Not even close, actually. Plus, I'm curious to see how the Scribe thing works. It sounds like an awesome feature, but pen-input on electronics has been traditionally...crappy. It would be awesome if it worked, though. But still, not $700 (+ another several hundred dollars in contract costs) awesome.

The Thrill sounds like a seriously decent phone, and at a much much better price. I've never tried the 3D screen but I would love to check it out. I have no idea if I would want that on my phone, but it does sound cool.

Samsung updates phone naming scheme

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Samsung announced some phones today, and also an update to the way they name their devices. The new naming strategy is designed to help convey details about the device simply by the letters that follow it. For example: the devices announced today are the Galaxy W, Galaxy M Pro, Galaxy Y and Galaxy Y Pro.

Confused? Here's how it works: , R is for Royal (high-end) M is for Magical (cheaper high-end), W is for Wonder (mid-range), and Y is for Young (entry-level). Additionally, the Pro designation means the device has a physical keyboard.

So look back at the devices announced today. The M Pro, to pick one, will be a cheaper high-end device with a keyboard. It does make sense once you wrap your mind around it. As for their well-known Galaxy S line, that is sticking around, too and will denote their highest-end, premier devices.

Remember that this is just Samsung's official naming scheme, and carriers (especially those in the US) are almost assured to change them. So while the M Pro, Y, or Y Pro may arrive in the US, they won't go by those names here. [via Engadget]

Complete ridiculousness. Royal? Magical? Wonder? Those definitely make me think of Disney cruise ships rather than Samsung phones. I appreciate their desire to simplify their naming scheme, but...this?

Bwahahaha! This is so stupid, it's awesome. What's the S mean, then? Superior? Saint-like? Superphone?

Android weekend rumor recap

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:58:00 +0000

Another week, another batch of rumors. We're getting ever closer to the holiday season, meaning these rumors are going to intensify over the coming months. Stick with us and we'll give you a nice weekly summary to help you make sense of it all. Keep reading for the rumors!

First up is a rumor about HTC's upcoming 10" tablet. Codenamed the HTC Puccini, a new rumor from Pocketnow says that it will launch on AT&T in the coming months and will go by the name HTC Jetstream. Price, release date, and all that good stuff remains unknown.
Ryan says: Tablets should be sold without contract. The fact that they are continually sold in the US with carrier and contract partners is very sad.
Shelsy says: I'm pretty bored with news of tablets. None of them seem really remarkable, and like Ryan said, the fact that they're all sold on contract seriously deters me from ever wanting one.

Everyone knows another Nexus device is coming soon, but details about it are very scarce. Now, however, we have a fresh rumor suggesting that the device will be called the Nexus Prime, will be released as soon as October, and will include an 720 HD screen. Price details are, of course, unknown.
Ryan says: I'm actually seriously considering this for my next phone, even though it's almost guaranteed to lack a real keyboard. Though, if trends with the last Nexus hold and the new one lacks a notification light, SD card slot, and stuff like that, then I'll probably pass.
Shelsy says: There doesn't seem to be enough to go on right now. I'm not in love with Samsung, and I don't think I would be too thrilled with a button-less design, but I guess that makes me sound old-fashioned!

In more Samsung news, the company has announced that they'll be holding a special event on September 1 to show off some exciting new stuff. Some people think we'll see that rumored Nexus at this event, while others think we might see an updated 7" tablet.
Ryan says: The 7" tablets don't get enough love in the "let's copy the iPad" world. Personally, I really like that 7" screen size, so I'd love to see a new device like that from a big company like Samsung.
Shelsy says: I would definitely expect to hear about the Nexus at this event, especially if they really are planning to release it in October.

Earlier this week, Engadget got an exclusive photo of an upcoming Motorola device that we haven't seen before. Apparently called the Droid HD (and destined for Verizon), the device looks to be remarkably thin, have a 4.3" screen, a 1080p camera, and...that's about all we know.
Ryan says: It's crazy that a device would first leak in pictures like this without so much as a mention or rumor before now. Even still, this looks like a super nice device, even if it is headed to Verizon.
Shelsy says: I was about to say something about how I don't care for Motorola, but I guess I'll probably be changing my stance on that soon. Verizon makes it a definite "no" for me, but phone itself sounds nice.

Lastly, the previously rumored HTC Ruby got a new rumor this week. According to Pocketnow, the device might be called the HTC Amaze when it goes on sale. The device is rumored to land on T-Mobile in the US sometime in October.
Ryan says: Looks nice.
Shelsy says: Yep...sounds good. I won't be buying it, but it sounds good.

That does it for this week, folks. Next week looms ahead, what rumors will it bring?

Google is buying Motorola Mobility

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:18:00 +0000

Huge news this morning from the Android world, as Google has announced that they are acquiring Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. Motorola Mobility was split off from the main Motorola back in January and is now a separate company, with Motorola Solutions being the second company. So Google isn't buying the entire Motorola brand, but rather just the Mobility company, responsible for all mobile devices.

If you recall, Motorola was responsible for some major Android home-runs including the original Droid, the Droid X, the Atrix, etc. Many people credit them with jump starting the entire Android brand with the Droid line.

Google says that Motorola Mobility will continue to operate as a separate company and won't be folded into the main Google brand. It will continue to license Android just like HTC, Samsung, and the other manufacturers. Google insists that they are fully committed to keeping Android open and continuing to make it available to all, meaning they have no plans to limit Android to Motorola devices.

In addition to the brand, manufacturing, etc., Google is also getting a huge patent portfolio with this acquisition. They will be able to vastly improve their patent holdings to defend themselves against lawsuits. And as they recently said, patents are something they are seriously fighting.

So, the long term details of this deal remain to be seen, but it appears in the short term that very little will change from a consumer perspective.

I don't think Google will be changing much with this acquisition. I think this was 90% motivated by a desire for the patents, with a little "hey, now we own a phone company" thrown in. In the short term, I think we'll probably see Motorola's custom skin vanish completely from new devices and Moto will become the new "pure Android experience" company. It's probably safe to assume that the next Nexus device will probably be made by Motorola.

My guess is the patent acquisition is the main reason behind Google buying this. But, I think it's a good thing that Google will now have some control over hardware. I wonder if this will lead to some really awesome phones down the road, with Google customizing hardware to utilize Android to its fullest potential.

Android weekend rumor recap

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 20:47:00 +0000

Finally, the first rumor recap since our return to blogging. This is the usual place where we discuss the past week's rumors, information leaks, and stuff like that. If you are a huge Android fan and prefer to follow these rumors as they show up, we recommend any or all of the Android blogs listed on the side of this site. Of course, if you're a huge Android fan, you're likely keeping up with at least one of those sites already. And now, some rumors!

First up, the HTC Bliss, a phone that has been rumored many times before and is reported to be a smartphone targeted at women (whatever that means), passed through the FCC this week. No new details are known, but this at least shows that the phone is, in fact, on its way.
Ryan says: I'm really worried this phone is just going to be a pink version of an existing HTC phone. Some women would like that, I'm sure, but on the whole, just making a phone pink might be more insulting than useful.
Shelsy says: Pink! Woo hoo! Just kidding...kind of. As much as I like pink, I'm very curious to see what they think women want. I have a few ideas of my own, but no one's asked me so I wonder if this will incorporate features that would actually appeal to me and other women.

In less of a rumor and more of a rumor crushing, Samsung officially came out this week saying that rumors of new devices are totally fake. Some people take this at face value and now write off that old rumor. Others take this as total proof that the devices referenced are real, because why would Samsung take time to deny them if it was just another rumor?
Ryan says: Not a fan of Samsung, myself, so I could care less.
Shelsy says: Well, I'm not going to take a side of whether the rumors are true or not. Like everything else, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

In more Samsung news, the company has announced that they have something big to show off on August 29. There's a big "II" logo on the invitation, so it's probably safe bet that they're going to finally show off the Galaxy SII for the United States. As for price, carriers, etc, all that is still anyone's guess.
Ryan says: Like I said, I don't care for Samsung products, so I won't be buying it. That being said, the Galaxy SII is a very, very nice looking phone, and after the success of the original Galaxy series, I can definitely see the SII series being a huge hit with American audiences.
Shelsy says: I'm curious to see how they're improving on the Galaxy line. I would guess this is going to be a really nice phone.

We got our first glimpse at what claims to be Ice Cream Sandwich this week, as both RootzWiki and AndroidPolice posted screenshots of the new OS. They stand by their sources, but, of course, there's no way to know for sure that the next version of Android will look like this when it's released. They claim that in addition to the new launcher, both Gmail and the Camera app are redone with new features.
Ryan says: The new launcher looks like a very minimal upgrade, nothing special. But the camera having a panorama mode sounds very nice.
Shelsy says: I'm always excited about updates. I'm hoping Ice Cream Sandwich will bring a lot more new features and improvements that we don't know about yet.

Lastly, we got some more details about the upcoming HTC Ruby this week. According to TmoNews, the device is coming to T-Mobile USA with a 1.5GHz processor and a 4.3" high-res screen. This would make it better than the Sensation, which is an HTC phone launched just a few months ago on T-Mobile. More details like price or exact release date are unknown.
Ryan says: Carriers always like to have lots of options for customers, but it seems odd to me that one carrier would stock two phones from the same manufacturer that are so similar in specs. Unless there's something else about the Ruby, or unless T-Mobile plans to discontinue the Sensation, I think something is a little fishy here...
Shelsy says: I don't think it's all that fishy. Newer and better, that's what American consumers want, right?

And there you have it. We're very quickly approaching the holiday season, meaning juicy rumors like these are only going to increase. Come back next week for a fresh batch!

Facebook launches new Messenger app

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Facebook announced a new app yesterday called Messenger. The app is available now on both Android and iOS and is a simple group messaging app. It doesn't work with Facebook Chat, but is rather a stand alone app that provides group messaging similar to iMessage, Kik, Google+ Huddle, etc. It doesn't provide read/delivered notifications yet, either.

If you recall, Facebook acquired group messaging service Beluga some time ago, so this is likely just the first of what we can expect from that purchase. Why Facebook chose to release two separate apps rather than tie the messaging service into their main Facebook app is unclear. You can download the app from the Android Market.

I have no interest in Facebook and will never use this app. But it's an interesting app nonetheless. I think it's clear that Facebook is trying to capture the growing messaging market as quickly as possible. Text messaging is on a decline, especially as more people get smartphones. It's only a matter of time before a superior service takes off as the SMS replacement, which is why we see so many services like this vying for the space. Facebook's solution isn't as elegant or well integrated as others, but it has the Facebook name attached to it, which is a huge advantage.

Ryan makes some good points, and I'm excited for something to take over for texts. I don't think this is it, though. It's arriving kind of late in the game and the slow start (lack of notifications, for example) doesn't impress me. I'm sure the Facebook brand will draw some people, but I don't see that being a huge advantage without being directly integrated into the site. Even those other more established messaging services seem to be a little slow catching on, so I predict this will lag behind.

Google discusses Android patents

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:18:00 +0000

Google took to their official blog yesterday to vent some frustration surrounding the Android patent situation. According to the post, two longtime rivals, Apple and Microsoft, have joined forces to hamper Android innovation and attempt to profit from bogus patent licensing.

The post is worth reading, even if it is a little on the harsh side. It's somewhat unusual for huge companies to take to their corporate blogs to discuss legal matters, and it shows how seriously Google is taking this situation.

I'm not even going to pretend to be qualified enough to discuss the relevance of patents. To me, the whole patent atmosphere in America seems to be outdated and not capable of handling the extremely fast-paced tech world. The system was built back in the days of inventions being very specific and lasting for years. Now, companies can get patents of extremely broad ideas that would seem to apply to every single gadget ever made.

It's going to be interesting to watch how this particular situation unfolds, especially given the public perspective Google has now given it. Ultimately, it won't make much of a difference for average consumers, especially in the short term.

Sometimes I just get tired of the human race. While I haven't looked into this situation extensively, it just seems so petty. It would be nice if these companies would spend their time and energy making products that they think are better than Android, instead of getting defensive. Grow up Apple and Microsoft.

Android pro tip: Search with different apps

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Cross-posted from The Dastardly Report

One of the best parts about using an Android smartphone is that there are so many seriously powerful things that the OS is capable of. An admittedly frustrating part of Android, however, is that not all of the cool features are immediately apparent and average users may not always discover them.

One such feature is app searching. Most Android phones have a dedicated search button right on the front. And even those that don't at least have a Google Search widget with launches the same search app. Pressing it brings up a search bar that lets you search through items on your phone, as well as search the whole Internet. By default, it searches through your apps, contacts, bookmarks, etc.

But that search can be customized to be much, much more powerful. With a few tweaks, you can pick which apps you want to be searchable right from the search button

To get started, push the search button on your device, or tap the widget if you don't have a button:

Now, instead of typing a search, tap the little blue g icon in the top left. You will now see a list of the applications you can search:

You can pick any one of these apps to perform a search just within that particular app, such as searching for a movie title on IMDb, or searching for something to buy on eBay. If you search for a particular term, you can even tap the icon of any app and whatever you typed will be preserved, allowing you to quickly check search results across apps just by tapping the icons:

To change which apps show up when you tap the g icon, tap the little settings icon in the initial app list:

This will bring up a huge list of all the apps you have installed that can be added or removed from your searchable apps popup:

And there you have it! With a few tiny little tweaks, you can seriously add some power and speed to the way you search. I personally use this feature all the time to quickly search within a specific app without needing to launch the app itself first. It definitely saves time, and makes that little search button on your phone all the more useful.

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Logitech Revue Google TV box now only $99

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:30:00 +0000

The Logitech Revue was one of the first Google TV devices announced and is still generally considered to be the flagship device for the platform. When it launched, it cost $300, which nearly everyone agreed was simply to much for what the product did. You could get a cheap PC for that price which could do all that and more, and for simple streaming duties, the Roku boxes start at just $59.

Late last week, however, Logitech announced that they'd be cutting the price from $299 to just $99, which makes it considerably more affordable and brings it right in line with the current Roku and Apple TV.

Plus, with the whole Google TV platform getting an update to Honeycomb later this summer that will allow installation of apps from the Android Market.

Personal note: We bought one. We were this close to buying a Roku, but for only $99, the future potential of Google TV is just too good to pass up. Expect a review of the product in the weeks ahead. :-)

We're back!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:44:00 +0000

After a much needed break, we are back to blogging! We spent the last few months house hunting, having a baby, and hosting many family visits. But life has mostly returned to normal, so we are going to attempt a return to our previously scheduled blogging.

The Android world hasn't slowed down, of course. In fact, it's gained momentum and it's becoming increasingly difficult for non-full-time Android sites (like this one) to keep up with all the news. So, as has been our strategy in the past, our focus here at H&HA will be to focus on the news that the general population would find interesting. This includes new device releases, exciting new apps, and breaking news.

This won't be the place to come for a continual stream of Android news. For up-to-the-minute news, rumors, etc., we recommend any of the great Android blogs listed on the side of this site. We plan to continue the weekly rumor recap posts, as well as occasional product reviews.

So thanks to those of you who stuck around this long. Here's to a more uninterrupted blog, more interesting posts, and more fun through the rest of this year and whatever comes next.

Taking a break

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 14:59:00 +0000

It's no secret that we haven't been keeping up with the vast amount of Android news around here lately. Our last post was over a week ago and we just haven't been able to continue posting as frequently as we'd like. As such, we have decided to temporarily take a break from this site to turn our focus on other life events.

Between having another baby in just a couple months, trying to move, and adjusting to a new work schedule, blogging has been forced to take a back seat. Don't get us wrong, we still love Android, still have our G2s, and are still just as interested in Android news as ever. As we've said before, all of the sites listed on the right side of this site are excellent for keeping up with the deluge of Android news and we recommend you check them out.

We'll be back, for sure, so don't worry. It may be a few months, but hopefully by summer, at the latest, we can resume writing about everyone's favorite green robot.

So bookmark this site, subscribe to the feed, or follow us on Twitter, and you'll stay in the know about when regular posting returns. Until then, thanks to all of our readers for sticking around. We'll be back.

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Froyo finally coming to the Epic (and maybe Captivate)

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:00:00 +0000

When the whole Samsung Galaxy line launched, they were all running Android 2.1, Eclair even though Froyo was already available. Samsung and the carriers told everyone not to worry, that an update to Froyo would be provided very soon. Well, the devices have all been out for over 6 months now and the updates are finally starting to arrive. The Vibrant on T-Mobile was the first to receive the Froyo update, and now the Sprint Epic (and maybe the AT&T Captivate) are joining the fun.

The update to the Epic will begin rolling out on Monday and Sprint promises that all customers should receive it by Friday the 25th.

The update to the Captivate was briefly available on Samsung's website, but has since been pulled down. Hopefully this means that the update will be arriving very soon, and someone simply posted it on the website a bit too soon. We'll have to wait and see.

It's important to note that Froyo is already running on nearly 60 percent of phones, and that Gingerbread is also available. Since the Galaxy S devices are receiving Froyo so late, what can be expected for updates to Gingerbread and beyond? Nobody knows.

Yeah, I'm not going to buy a Samsung product anytime soon. But it's important to remember that the vast majority of customers don't have any clue what version of Android they're running, and that those that do care have likely already rooted and updated their phones manually. So, even late, it's good to see these devices receiving updates at all, unlike some.

I'm getting really tired of long overdue updates being news. It's such a sorry state of affairs, and it always makes me angry and annoyed. And although Ryan's right that not many people are aware of or care what version they have, there are features that come with the upgrades that would seriously improve customer perception of the Android brand. I feel bad for everyone who doesn't know what they're missing.

HTC announces new, refreshed phones

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:47:00 +0000

HTC took the wraps off their newest products this week at Mobile World Congress and they had a lot to show off. They announced five new phones and a 7-inch tablet. Two of the phones are the rumored Facebook phones, which we'll discuss in another post. We'll also cover the tablet in another post.

For the most part, their new products were simple refreshes of existing devices. The three phones we'll discuss in this post, the Incredible S, Desire S, and Wildfire S are all updates to existing phones by the same names. Many have questioned why HTC went with the S suffix for these devices, since both the iPhone 3GS and Galaxy S have both previously used it. HTC didn't provide an answer to that question.

To quickly sum up the new devices, the Incredible S features a 4" screen, 1GHz processor, 8MP camera, and runs Android 2.3 with HTC Sense. The Desire S features a 3.7" screen, 1GHz processor, 5MP camera, and runs Android 2.2 with HTC Sense (though an update to Gingerbread is promised very soon). Finally, the Wildfire S features a 3.2" screen, 600MHz processor, 5MP camera, and runs Android 2.3 with HTC Sense.

The original Desire and original Wildfire never made it to any of the big four US carriers, but the original Incredible was one of Verizon's best selling among the Droid line. No word on release date, whether any of these will come to the US, or price.

These look nice, but I can't help feel underwhelmed. With all the other manufacturers announcing insane dual core, 3D, desktop-emulating, phones, it's hard to be excited about these which are simply minor upgrades to existing phones. There's nothing new or exciting here.

HTC makes great phones, but these definitely aren't anything special. The only one I would even consider, size-wise, is the Desire S, but why would they release that running 2.2? Especially when the other phones are being released with 2.3? It doesn't make sense to me.

LG announces the Optimus 3D

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:09:00 +0000

LG has already showed off the Optimus Pad (called the G-Slate in the US), which features 3D video recording, but at MWC this week, they showed off a phone with similar capabilities. The Optimus 3D features a 4.3" glasses-free 3D screen and dual cameras on the back for 3D video capture.

It's powered by a dual core CPU, and runs Android 2.2, Froyo. LG promises an update to Gingerbread will be provided soon, maybe even before the device actually launches. It is promised to be available in Europe later this year, with no mention of a US launch.

The device also features access to the new YouTube 3D channel for instant uploading of 3D content. It can even plug into your 3D HDTV at home to display your 3D content on the big screen. [via Gizmodo]

This thing is so awesome. I love 3D and have dabbled with filming 3D in the past, but it has required using two cameras and doing some complicated editing after the fact. Something like this would make it just as easy to do 3D as standard video, and the glasses-free display means that it'll be super easy to show 3D video to friends. Plus, imagine gaming on a 3D screen. Everything about this just screams awesome and I really hope it launches in the US. I've always said that I need a physical keyboard on my phones, but a feature like this might persuade me otherwise.

This is really such a cool idea. I love that 3D is catching on--so many people were skeptical of it when it started showing up in movies and TVs. But the technology just keeps getting better and better. And once people can start making their own 3D videos so easily, I think they'll be hooked. I haven't seen one of the glasses free displays in person, but I'm sure it makes for a really great experience. I'm looking forward to new phones that utilize these features (hopefully something a little smaller!) and even more improvements.

Samsung announced Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 10.1

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:04:00 +0000

Samsung announced their latest phone and tablet this week at MWC, the Galaxy S II, and the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Both are sequels of sorts to their existing devices and both push the envelope. Nothing about price, release date, or even what country both will be for sale in was announced, but the devices are coming sometime this year.

To start, the Galaxy S II is a powerful follow-up to the original Galaxy S line. It packs a dual core CPU, a larger 4.3" screen, full 1080 HD video recording, front facing camera, all packed in a body that's thinner than the previous model and even thinner than the iPhone 4. It also features the same NFC technology as the Nexus S. Samsung is claiming it's the world's thinnest smartphone, and they just might be right. The device is running Android 2.3, Gingerbread.

Next is the Galaxy Tab 10.1, named for it's screen size. It's a Honeycomb tablet aimed to compete with the Xoom and G-Slate. It features a dual core CPU, and the same full HD recording and front facing camera as the Galaxy S II.

Read more about these devices at Android Central and Engadget.

These are some seriously impressive devices. The fact that the Galaxy S II manages to cram so much computing power into such a crazy thin body is awesome in itself. After Samsung's latest upgrade fiasco, though, I can't say I'm all to anxious to get one of these. But even so, they still are some nice looking pieces of hardware and will probably sell even better than the devices they're replacing.

I have to admit that these are pretty impressive, and they look really nice. But it's really just not worth the risk that they'll never ever get updated.

Android weekend rumor recap

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another February edition of the weekend rumor recap! This is where we briefly summarize the various Android related rumors of the past week, along with our commentary. If you're the type of Android fan who likes to follow rumors as they come in, we recommend any of the great Android blogs listed on the side of this site. Now on to the rumors!

To start, we have a rumor from Pocket-Lint suggesting that Android 2.4 will be arriving in April and will simply be a feature update to Gingerbread. It will still be called Gingerbread name, much the same way Android 2.0 and 2.1 both bore the Elcair moniker. Their source also goes on to suggest that 3.1 is where we'll see the Ice Cream name, and that it will indeed be Ice Cream, not Ice Cream Sandwich as previously rumored.
Ryan says: This makes a lot of sense to me. Google has said they plan to bring the tablet version and phone version together at some point, so it would stand to reason that any further phone updates wouldn't get dessert names beyond Honeycomb and that the Ice Cream update will be the update that unites the two versions. But that's a long way away, who knows what'll happen by then. Remember when we were all convinced that 2.2 was going to be called Flan?
Shelsy says: This isn't a real surprising or exciting rumor, as far as the naming goes. Although I'm a little surprised that there will be a new update as early as April. It doesn't seem like it's been that long since 2.3 came out, even though this will be a little one. Either way, I always like new updates!

Remember the whole Galaxy S update debacle? Well, according to a rumor from Android Central, The Sprint Epic could be the next phone to recieve the long, long awaited Froyo update. The rumor pegs the update as arriving on February 21, which is just over a week away.
Ryan says: The fact that the update is just now happening is kind of ridiculous. Froyo was first released back in May of last year, meaning that the Epic is getting it nine months later. It's great to see it finally updated, but come on.
Shelsy says: Ugh! Don't even get me started on this again!

Next we have a rumor that will be confirmed or shot down in just a few days. Mobile World Congress begins today and according to several rumors, HTC is set to bring some exciting stuff. They put up an official teaser, are rumored to be bringing their first dual-core phone to T-Mobile USA, and are rumored to have both a 7" and a 10" tablet in the works. They will undoubtedly be showing off whatever new stuff they have at MWC this week.
Ryan says: Very exciting, I love HTC and definitely look forward to seeing their tablets. The rumored dual core phone for T-Mobile looks really nice, too, but it doesn't have a keyboard, so probably not for me. The tablets could be real winners, though, if priced right. We'll find out very soon!
Shelsy says: I *heart* HTC. Can't wait to see what they're going to show up with.

According to a Wirefly webpage that has since been pulled down (but not before being snapped by Phone Arena), the finally-official Sony Xperia Play could be headed to Verizon. There are still no release dates or prices for this device, but those will likely be announced this week at MWC.
Ryan says: There were other rumors this week about this phone coming to every major carrier in Europe, and if Sony wants it to be a success, that's what needs to happen here. Verizon is a good start for them, being the biggest US carrier, but if they want a smash hit, they need to get it on all of them.
Shelsy says: It isn't surprising that it'll go to Verizon, but I agree with Ryan that it needs to be more widespread than that, even if it's a little delayed.

In a strange rumor from the Financial Times, HTC is apparently prepping to release their own version of a Facebook phone. This isn't the first time a rumor about an HTC Facebook phone has popped up, but this new one suggests that the phone will be a standard HTC Android phone, but will feature a dedicated Facebook button on the outside. Whether HTC intends to build custom Facebook software like INQ did remains to be seen. The device is expected to be announced this week at MWC.
Ryan says: My initial reaction is that this is a really dumb idea and that manufacturers need to stop pandering to Facebook. But in reality, Facebook is unbelievably huge and a smartphone with a dedicated Facebook button would probably sell very well, especially from a known manufacturer like HTC. I, of course, want nothing to do with it.
Shelsy says: Haha, I find it incredible that people use Facebook so much that they would need a button on the outside of the phone. It's too much trouble to turn on the screen and tap an icon? This is kind of bordering on absurd. I don't even know of any phones that do that for email, which would actually make sense.

Finally, we have a rumor that could prove to be great news for many people. A Motorola device passed through the FCC this week that appears to be a WiFi-only version of the Xoom. The filing lists a "handheld device" rather than "mobile phone" and describes several of the Xoom's features. It's entirely possible that the filing could be describing another unknown Motorola device, but all signs indicate it's a WiFi Xoom.
Ryan says: This is awesome news. It seems like all the great Honeycomb tablets are launching with carrier lockdowns and high prices. It's really surprising that nobody has tried releasing a WiFi only tablet to compete with the cheapest iPad. Maybe this will finally hit the sweet spot.
Shelsy says: This definitely needs to happen with all tablets. I think people should be given the option. Kudos to Motorola for making it happen with the Xoom (maybe).

That about sums it up for this week, and it wouldn't be surprising if most of these rumors are resolved in a matter of days. You can expect coverage here of all the big announcements this week, so until then, thanks for reading!

INQ announces a Facebook phone

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:25:00 +0000

The rumors of a Facebook Phone have been around for several months now, and even though the company has explicitly stated that they are NOT working on a phone, the rumors refuse to die. And yesterday, the rumors all got a little more credibility as INQ showed off their custom Facebook phone, called the INQ Cloud Touch.

It's important to note that this is not a Facebook branded device, but rather a phone made by INQ that runs Android and features very, very deep Facebook integration. INQ worked with Facebook on this device, not the other way around. INQ is not a company most Americans will have heard of, but they are a fairly well known phone manufacturer in Europe and Canada.

The Cloud Touch runs Android 2.2, so it is fully compatible with existing Android apps and includes Google apps like Maps, the Market, and Gmail, but it also features a redesigned homescreen, tons of custom apps and widgets, etc. all tailored to bring Facebook front and center. The device itself features fairly mediocre specs and doesn't even compare when lined up next to the big boys, but it appears to be pretty snappy and for Facebook addicts, this could be a dream come true.

The device is expected to be available in Europe this May, with a US launch promised later this year. No details regarding price or potential carrier agreements were given. [via TechCrunch and All Things Digital]

This totally isn't a phone for Android fans. I'd even say it's not a phone for smartphone fans. This device is going to appeal to the younger crowd who may never have owned a smartphone before. Those people who live and breathe Facebook are going to love this thing. I've heard people asking why you'd buy this over any other smartphone with a Facebook app. While true, never underestimate the laziness factor. Someone who isn't interested in gadgets or smartphones will love this because you just turn it on and Facebook is already right there, no apps to install. If by some miracle, INQ can work out a deal with US carriers where this phone doesn't require a full smartphone data plan, then they've got a sure fire success.

I find it kind of sad that there are people so obsessed with Facebook that they would want an entire phone that revolves around it, but that's probably just me. Also, I think this phone looks like a toy. It's kind of hard for me to take it seriously. But, for the niche group that Ryan described, this phone is probably perfect. I, however, won't be standing in line.

Dual-screen Kyocera Echo now official

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 04:10:00 +0000

Earlier this evening, Sprint held their special press event where they promised something new that had never been done before. Some early rumors suggested they would do a 3D phone, while others pointed to some type of folding tablet. Turns out neither were quite right, though the second was much closer to the mark, as the device announced is a smaller, folding, dual screen phone.

The Kyocera Echo is a Sprint device that features a very unique hinge design, allowing one screen to fold down over the other to form a traditional slate form-factor, or fold open to create a unified, tablet style device. The folding hinge is hard to describe, so take a look at Kyocera's press video:

The device features two 3.5" screens, a single-core 1GHz processor, 5MP camera, and runs on Sprint's 3G network. It does not include Sprint's much touted 4G connectivity. It is powered by Android 2.2, Froyo with Kyocera's custom apps to utilize the dual screens. Only the special Kyocera modified apps will be able to fully utilize the multi-tasking, dual screen features.

The Echo will arrive on Sprint this spring for $199 on contract. For more coverage, be sure to check out Engadget's hands-on photos and videos.

I have to applaud Sprint and Kyocera for trying something new. In a world of look-alike slate devices, this one really stands out as being unique and different. That being said, I really have to question what Sprint was thinking with this one. I'm honestly not sure who they think their target demographic is for this. The hardcore phone nerds won't buy it because its specs are already eclipsed by more powerful phones arriving this year. And I honestly can't picture a first-time smartphone buyer choosing this over the Evo or Epic.

Let's be honest, first-time smartphone buyers are likely going to want something that looks like the iPhone, since that's what they've seen advertised. And they'll want 4G, since they've also seen that heavily advertised. So in the Sprint store, with this on the shelf next to the Evo, I really think every single potential customer will pick the Evo over this. It's just a little too out there (and let's be honest, ugly) to really appeal to anyone. I'm sure they'll sell a few, but it ultimately I think it's just a head-scratcher of a device.

I'm completely with Ryan on this one. The thing is seriously ugly--and super fat. The ad itself makes the whole thing just seem cheesy--almost like a joke. I really do get what they were going for, and in theory, I think it's a great idea. A dual screen phone has a lot of potential. It just doesn't seem to me like they've actually unlocked that potential with this phone. The very limited number of apps that are even capable of utilizing the dual screens is a huge setback. The unimpressive specs are also an indication that this phone is just not where it needs to be. But, I'm betting we'll start seeing other manufacturers producing dual screen phones in the future--and they're only going to get better.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play finally official

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:07:00 +0000

After literally years of rumors, leaks, pictures, videos, etc., Sony has finally decided to make the device official. All the leaks look to have quite accurately predicted how the device would look and perform. While it does take quite a few design cues from the PlayStation, it is not called the "PlayStation Phone" as many predicted. Instead, it is branded with Sony's Xperia line of entertainment TV devices, and is called the Xperia Play.

The device features a 4" screen atop a slider mechanism similar to sliding keyboard phones, but instead of revealing a QWERTY keyboard, this slider reveals game controls. Those two flat circles in the center function as touch-sensitive analog sticks, allowing dual analog control without needing actual sticks. It is powered by a 1GHz single-core processor and dedicated graphics chip. It also has the usual stable of hardware specs like WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 5MP camera, etc.

The Xperia Play, surprisingly, is powered by Android 2.3, Gingerbread. Whether it will be updated down the road remains to be seen, but it's good that it's launching with the latest version available. The device does appear to be thicker than other phones, but remember that it's designed to be gripped like a game controller, so some extra heft might be a good thing.

Engadget got a great hands-on review of the device a few weeks ago, which you can check out here. Now that it's finally official, Sony says that the device will be formally unveiled at Mobile World Congress next week.

The rumors of a PlayStaion phone have prevailed for so long and have taken so many forms that it's actually a relief to see it finally happen. It looks like a great device and definitely has a lot going for it. But there's a lot stacked against it, too. It only has a single-core processor, which is fine for now, but with all the dual-core monsters coming out this year, it will likely be left in the dust very soon. Second, even if Sony launches some kick-ass games for this, will that be enough? Good games alone might not be enough to convince people to switch carriers, or break contracts just to get this.

Then again, PlayStation has a huge following, so maybe they've got a winner in this device. I think it will ultimately depend on carrier agreements, device pricing, and all that. Maybe Sony will pull the same magic Samsung did and launch this on every US carrier at the same time. That would certainly help sales.

I think it's interesting that they decided to go with the Xperia branding instead of PlayStation. This definitely seems like the kind of thing where they would want to focus in on those PlayStation devotees. And with so many other popular handheld gaming devices out there, I would think this definitely has the edge with also being a very capable smartphone, even if it's not the most highly powered one available. That still gives it a big edge over the competition as far as functionality. So while this phone isn't for me, I think enough people will be interested to make it a success, especially if it's priced reasonably.

Android weekend rumor recap

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:01:00 +0000

It's time once again for the weekly rumor recap post! This is where we quickly summarize the best Android related rumors and leaks of the past week, complete with our commentary on each. If you prefer to follow rumors as they come in, we recommend any of the fine Android sites listed to the right. Now, on to the rumors!

First up is a leak first spotted by DroidLife that clearly shows the Best Buy Facebook page for their Grand Rapids store listing exact release dates for some upcoming Verizon devices. They claim the Motorola Xoom will launch on February 24, and that the HTC Thunderbolt will launch on February 14. The original Facebook post has, of course, since been removed.
Ryan says: Release dates have a nasty tendency of changing, so this isn't all that reliable. That being said, that's a heck of a lot sooner than anybody expected the Xoom to launch. That's less than a month away, which is quite exciting, even though I have no intention of actually buying it.
Shelsy says: Yeah, I'm not holding my breath, but I definitely wasn't expecting to see the Xoom anytime soon, let alone in just a couple of weeks.

According to a leaked picture obtained by Phandroid, LG's upcoming 3D phone, the Optimus 3D, is very real and is coming very soon. Rumored specs are a dual core processor, 4" or 4.3" screen, glasses-free 3D display, and possibly even dual cameras for 3D video capture. It is rumored to be landing on Sprint in the US.
Ryan says: After the news of the LG Tablet being 3D, I totally believe this rumor. Glasses-free displays work better on smaller devices, so this could be very cool and I seriously want to see it in person.
Shelsy says: This is very interesting. I'd love to see a phone like this, and to see this display in person. I personally wouldn't buy this phone, just because it's too big, but I'm curious to see if this idea catches on.

Next we have two very similar rumors about new devices headed to Sprint. The carrier seems prepped to get two new vertical, non-slider QWERTY devices, one by Samsung and one by Motorola. Both appear to be Nextel direct-connect enabled. No prices or release dates yet.
Ryan says: These are pretty cool, and I definitely like that design. I think these will be quite popular with the Nextel-carrying crowd who want smartphones, but are still addicted to their BlackBerrys.
Shelsy says: I think Ryan has a good point about the targeted audience for this phone. These could be very successful with that group. I like this style of phone and it's always nice to see it presented as an option, besides the typical slate-style phones.

Finally, an article from the Wall Street Journal says that Google is hiring "dozens" of expert app developers to boost their offering of high quality Android apps. The article says that these will go beyond apps for existing Google services like Gmail and Maps, and will focus on new ideas, including games. No mention was made about how soon we might see these new apps hit the Market, but most (if not all) of these new apps are expected to be free with ads.
Ryan says: I can't say this surprises me. Google already makes some of the best Android apps available, so it's natural to see them want to continue. The mention of games is interesting, since that would mean Google plans to develop their own games in-house, which could be pretty cool. I look forward to trying their new stuff when it's released.
Shelsy says: This is exciting. I am definitely inclined to trust Google apps, and I especially like that they'll be free. I'm curious about what their games would be like--it would be fun to see what they can do there. Although, I kind of feel like they should be putting more of an effort into making really great apps for their existing services--including improving the Blogger app and creating a Docs app.

Another week has passed, and it's time for a new one to begin! What exciting rumors will this upcoming week bring? Be sure to check back next weekend for another round of recapped rumors

Official Blogger app now available!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:28:00 +0000

Google has owned Blogger for 8 years, and Android has been around for more than 2 years now, and yet there was never an official Blogger app. You'd think that with Blogger being one of the most popular blogging platforms in the world, and owned by Google, that it would have been one of the first official apps to be released.

Thankfully, those of us using Blogger no longer have to long for an official app, as it was finally released yesterday! The app allows switching between multiple accounts and multiple blogs, composing new posts and saving offline drafts, uploading photos, location sharing, and photo sharing right from the Gallery.

The app isn't perfect, and definitely has some missing features, but it gets the job done nicely. For example, the app can't view drafts created from the desktop site, only drafts written from the app itself. The app also can't do some more advanced tasks like comment moderation, adding photo captions, editing a post in HTML, etc.

As a first release, the app is really good. It will likely only get better with future updates, too. It requires Android 2.1 or higher. To download the app, head over to the Android Market.

It's awesome to finally see this app arrive. It's one I've been waiting for and it was one of my two requested apps for 2011. It's not perfect by any means, and the fact that it doesn't allow editing of existing saved drafts means I won't be getting a whole lot of use out of it myself, but it's still a welcome addition. Hopefully it gets quickly better as the year continues!

It's about freaking time. Seriously, why did this take so long? It's kind of a disgrace, really. And I've minimally played around with this app, and it still leaves a lot to be desired. I mean, it's good that it finally exists, but it's so limited that it's useful on an I-guess-it's-better-than-nothing kind of level. In my opinion, this app is what should have existed two and a half years ago when Android first launched. By now, I would have expected a lot more.

Web-based Android Market goes live!

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Early last year, at their annual developers conference, Google briefly teased a web-based version of the Android Market that would allow browsing, searching, and installing of apps right from the desktop. They said it was coming soon, but nothing was ever said about it. That all changed yesterday when the new Market website finally went live.

The new webstore can be found at market.android.com and allows for detailed searching, browsing by category, sorting search results by popularity, and instant, over-the-air installs. Simply log into your Google Account, and you're good to go. Pressing the Install button on a given app presents you with the option to choose which device you want it to be installed on (assuming you have more than one), and then it instantly begins to download and install on your phone.

Market links are context aware, too, so if someone emails you a link to a cool app, for example, and you open it on your desktop, it will take you to the Market website. If you open the same link on your phone, it will open the Market app. If you decide to purchase an app from the webstore, you are presented with the same payment options you have on your phone, including Google Checkout, and carrier billing if it's available.

You can also click "My Market Account" across the top and get a list of all the various installed and purchased apps on your device. This page will also list whether apps were free, purchased, or purchased then refunded.

To check out the new Market yourself, simply visit the Market website and sign in using the same Google Account that's tied to your Android device. Once signed in, you can begin installing apps right away.

I've seriously been anxiously waiting for this ever since it was first shown off months ago. Chrome to Phone demonstrated what over-the-air pushing can do, and being able to install apps without ever touching your phone is really cool. It also makes sharing apps with friends much easier, since you can just send them a link. Previously, the Market website was so bad that it didn't even allow searching, let alone direct linking and installing. I'd love to see more improvements made, like the ability to uninstall apps from the website, or RSS feeds for individual developers so I can see when they release something new, but those are just small additions. Overall, this is a huge step forward for the Market and for Android as a whole.

I really don't ever search the Market. To be honest, I kind of try to avoid it. But, perhaps it's because it was just so cumbersome. If I am going to be doing any searching, I'll definitely be doing it from the website. I bet the Market will see a dramatic increase in use with all the new changes.

T-Mobile G-Slate details announced

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Late last night, T-Mobile took to Twitter to announce some official details of their upcoming Honeycomb Tablet, the LG G-Slate. The G-Slate was announced at CES, but no details were given at all. Now we have some concrete specs, and a slightly more concrete release date.

The G-Slate will have an 8.9" screen, a super-fast dual-core processor, and will be powered by Android 3.0, Honeycomb. In a first-of-its-kind move, the G-Slate will also feature some fancy 3D capabilities. Its display will be able to display 3D content, though glasses will be required. It also features dual cameras on the back, allowing it to record full HD, 1080p 3D videos. The glasses won't be required all the time for using the tablet, just for when you want to watch 3D content. It's unclear what type of 3D screen technology LG is using for this device.

The G-Slate will also be a 4G device, fully able to take advantage of T-Mobile's HSPA+ network. It goes on sale "this spring" for an unannounced price. [via Android Central]

I'm really excited about this tablet. The 3D recording totally sells it for me. I've dabbled in 3D video before and it's actually a lot of fun, so having a device that can record and playback 3D video just sounds awesome. The 3D playback requiring glasses is an interesting move, but maybe it'll mean that the normal tablet screen looks better than a glasses-free display. Lots of details remain to be seen on that screen.

Plus, it's a Honeycomb tablet, which alone puts it head and shoulders above most other tablets on the market. Sadly, it's tied to T-Mobile, meaning it'll require an expensive data plan. That's enough to keep me from buying it, unfortunately. Hopefully LG releases a WiFi-only version sooner or later.

Wow, this sounds really cool. I love the double camera for recording 3D video. That makes it so easy. And while I think a lot of people will be turned off by having to use glasses to view 3D, I don't think it's a big deal. That's how we're used to viewing almost all 3D content right now anyway, and I bet Ryan's right that the screen will be nicer for doing all of the 2D stuff that you use a tablet for 99% of the time. I would also like to see a WiFi version--with or without 4G add-on. I just like to have options (and I don't like to have contracts).

HTC Inspire 4G available Feb 13 on AT&T

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:44:00 +0000

The impressive HTC Inspire 4G was announced at CES earlier this year for AT&T, and now we have an official launch date. If you recall, the Inspire 4G is nearly identical to the Evo 4G on Sprint. The Inspire has the same 4.3" screen, but features a newer generation processor and an improved graphics chip for better game and graphics performance. It lacks a front-facing camera, however, which is one of the prime features of several other modern smartphones.

The Inspire is the first device to go on sale running on AT&T's 4G network, and it will cost only $99 on contract. It goes on sale February 13, less than 2 weeks away.

Up until now, AT&T has had a less than impressive Android lineup, but this device changes that in a big way. Having a device that's more powerful than the Evo, costs less up front, and runs on a cheaper data plan is a big deal, and it's just the beginning of what AT&T promises will be one of the most impressive smartphone arsenals in the country. [via DroidDog]

This is quite the turnaround for AT&T, and it's great to see them finally embrace Android. Up until now, AT&T customers who didn't want to switch had the iPhone as their best option, without any noteworthy Android choices. That's no longer the case and this phone is an excellent device for them at a really great price.

Besides the freakishly large screen on this thing, this is going to be an awesome phone. That price is amazing, and it's great that it'll be running on 4G. Plus, HTC makes great phones, so I think this will be very popular.

Android weekend rumor recap

noreply@blogger.com (Ryan Joseph) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 13:49:00 +0000

Welcome to the final rumor recap post for January! This is a post we do every weekend here, where we quickly sum up the week's best Android rumors, complete with our commentary. To follow all the exciting rumors and leaks as they come in, we recommend checking out all of the excellent Android blogs listed on the side of this site. Continue reading for the rumors!

First, we have a report from TheNextWeb detailing a new trademark filing HTC has recently made for something called HTC Sensation. The trademark filing specifically says that it's not for a device, but rather for software. Speculation is that Sensation will be a tablet version of HTC's existing Sense interface.
Ryan says: This is definitely possible, though I question why they'd want a different name for their tablet skin as opposed to their phone skin. Sense is a pretty known name in the Android world, and I would think they'd want to keep it. But what do I know. :-)
Shelsy says: I think it's pretty likely that it's their tablet version of Sense, especially given the similarity of the two names. Maybe they want to differentiate that this is designed specifically with tablet functionality in mind.

Next is a rumor from City AM stating that Facebook is set to launch a branded phone at MWC next month. The device is rumored to be manufactured by HTC and run Android with a heavily modified Facebook interface.
Ryan says: Rumors of a Facebook phone have persisted for quite some time now, so there must be some truth to it somewhere. Maybe this will just be a standard Android phone but have a custom HTC Facebook app? The only way a Facebook specific phone would succeed would be if it were very cheap, and didn't require an expensive data plan, neither of which I see happening. So...
Shelsy says: Oh great, a Facebook phone.... I have issues with Facebook as it is, I definitely wouldn't want my phone to be full of it. But, I also realize I'm in the minority there. Given how huge Facebook is, I think a phone designed specifically for them would be a hit.

The next rumor says that Verizon and Motorola have a sequel to the Droid X, creatively called the Droid X2, coming very soon. It is rumored to look identical to the original, except feature a seriously beefed up, dual-core processor. The rumor also suggests that the Droid X2 will not be a 4G device, but that part of the rumor is in dispute.
Ryan says: I find it highly unlikely that this won't be 4G. The Droid X is a hugely successful device for them, and if the sequel adds nothing but a faster processor, then it's not much of an upgrade.
Shelsy says: I agree with Ryan--they shouldn't even waste their time if it's not going to be 4G. I think all the high-end devices coming out from this point on need to be 4G to stay on pace.

Another recent report says that Netflix and Qualcomm have been in discussions to bring streaming video to Snapdragon phones first. Netflix has previously stated that they are working to bring streaming to Android, but that more security measures need to be in place. This rumor suggests that Snapdragon phones might be the first to get streaming due to their secure architecture. It is unknown if this means only future Snapdragon powered phones, or if existing ones will get it, too.
Ryan says: This is somewhat hard to believe, but it's definitely possible. The way I expect Netflix to launch their Android app is to have it preinstalled on new phones, but not work with old ones. But since most of the new phones out there don't use Snapdragon, this seems like an odd choice for them. But since my phone has a Snapdraon chip, I hope it's true just because I want it.
Shelsy says: I don't really get what all is going on with this, but I don't think anything's going to be happening soon, so I'm not going to worry about it yet. I don't know how much streaming I would do from my phone, anyway.

Finally, we have a new report that all but confirms the Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Tab2 will be announced at MWC next month. These devices have been rumored for quite some time, and MWC would make sense as a venue for announcement.
Ryan says: I'm not interested in either one of these...not at all. But I do fully expect to see them announced next month.
Shelsy says: Boo, hiss.

That about wraps it up for this week. Be sure to check back next week, as the rumors will likely intensify as we get closer and closer to MWC. Until then, thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more!