desire-z

AOSP stock Android available now for Sony Xperia Z

2013-04-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

Sony’s willingness to support third-party developers and hackers is well known at this point. Just some months ago, with support from Google, Sony more or less turned the Xperia S into a Nexus smartphone. They provided all the binaries they could for the device, along with a developmental AOSP, stock Android, build for developers to play around with. Unfortunately, Google backed away from the project within a short time, and the Xperia S never became a bonafide AOSP managed device. But that didn’t stop Sony from keeping all the necessary files to run stock Android available on their github page.

Announced today on their developer blog, Sony is now doing the same thing with their latest flagship smartphone, and has released an AOSP build for the 5-inch 1080p Xperia Z, complete with as many binaries as they can possibly supply. Sony was able to provide the necessary files to get the SD-card, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, LED light, and most sensors working, but cannot provide the binaries for the camera or modem. Although they do have both working well internally.

Because of the broken modem and camera support, along with a handful of bugs, AOSP for the Xperia Z isn’t ready for every day use quite yet, but it could be only a matter of time. A quick look on XDA shows that the Sony released AOSP code for the Xperia S was used to make a successful ROM. There’s little reason to believe the Xperia Z won’t follow suit. All the files needed for getting AOSP up and running on your Xperia Z are located on Sony’s github, ready for contribution from developers committed to making this project daily-driver worthy.

The decision to give developers and consumers the tools needed to customize the firmware on their Xperia S was, as you would imagine, very well received. Sony was celebrated for being open minded and receptive to consumer demands. Doing the same thing with the Xperia Z seals that reputation. What do you think of Sony’s decision to release vanilla Android for their flagship devices?

Source: Sony Developer Blog

Google Glass retail launch still a year away

2013-04-23T06:56:00.002-07:00

So you’ve been tuned in to the hype machine for the last year. You’ve seen the unboxings, you’ve read the Google+ Posts, and now you want to know: when can I, a plain ol’ consumer, get my hands on Google Glass? I’m sorry to let you know, you’ve still got another year’s wait ahead of you.

In an interview with BBC Radio, Eric Schmidt made it clear that a retail launch of Google Glass is still “a year-ish away.”

Well, the developers are beginning now. It would be fair to say that there will be thousands of these in use by developers over the next months. And then based on their feedback, we’ll make some product changes – and it’s probably a year-ish away.

Eric SchmidtGoogle

As badly as we’d like to see Glass available to the public at a more affordable price (developer editions run $1,500), a smooth launch of a finished product is much more important. There will surely be handfuls of bugs to sort out from Glass’ current position, and new features introduced as well.

The Next Web is reporting, citing Glass-Apps.org, that a series of gesture-based actions may be added to Glass in the coming months. Found deep in the code for Google’s My Glass app are references to the ability to pinch (in the air) to zoom and control a browser window, and wink to take a picture. While there is a proximity sensor on the inner edge of Glass, some of the features hinted at may require a hardware revision, which would push a retail launch back even further.

Hopefully by I/O 2014, we’ll be talking about how to buy Glass, and what kind of apps to install once you get your hands on one. This year though, we’ll still be salivating at all the fancy Glass demos, hoping to get our hands on one right along with you.

Via: DroidLife

Source: Telegraph

LG Optimus G Pro US unveiling set for May 1

2013-04-23T06:46:00.001-07:00

As a follow up to an event invitation sent out early last week, LG has announced that their upcoming May 1 event in New York City will showcase the unveiling of the US LG Optimus G Pro.

It’s no secret that Samsung’s Galaxy Note series of devices has captured a fair share of success, but LG isn’t content to sit back and watch Samsung dominate. LG’s answer to the Note II, the Optimus G Pro, will finally launch in the US sometime after its upcoming May 1 unveiling, as announced by LG in a press invite to the event.

The international LG Optimus G Pro is a high-end larger smartphone, featuring a 5.5-inch 1080p HD display, Snapdragon 600, 32GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel camera, Android 4.1 and a 3140 mAh battery. While the US variant will undoubtedly feature region-specific radios, don’t expect much else to change.

LG has found success in Korea with the Optimus G Pro, selling over 500,000 handsets in just 40 days. It took four months for the original Optimus G to sell one million units; LG is on track to easily beat that. Keep an eye out for more LG Optimus G Pro info as May 1st approaches.

Is Google really working on a 32GB Nexus 4 with LTE for I/O? 0 inShare

2013-04-23T06:38:00.000-07:00

Even though the Nexus 4 was released just some five months ago, the rumor mill is quick at work, spinning tales of new hardware set to be announced at Google I/O. Among the rumors that a new Nexus 7 will be announced, there is a recently surfaced rumor that Google is working on an updated Nexus 4 with LTE and 32GB of storage.

When Google released the Nexus 4, it was made perfectly clear that a lot of the things missing from the device were intentional. The lack of LTE and limited storage being the two most prominent issues picked at by practically everyone talking about it. Andy Rubin, then the head of Android, was quoted as saying the absence of LTE was, “tactical.”

The LTE situation across the globe is complex. To access GSM/HSPA+ speeds all over the globe, only a handful of frequencies need to be accessible to a device. The issue changes greatly with LTE, and even more so with America’s CDMA/LTE hybrid networks. If Google were to release an LTE device, how would it work?

Any LTE enabled Nexus device would most likely only work on one or two LTE networks. The most likely scenario would be Google releasing a revised Nexus 4 that works on AT&T and T-Mobile LTE. Rumors that an LTE enabled Nexus 4 would work on other carriers, or that it would include CDMA, seem far fetched.

While there is a sizable user base to be captured with CDMA devices in the US, the amount of negotiating, update hassles and AOSP headache needed outweigh the benefits. Right now, there’s simply no easy way to craft one device, and have it work everywhere.

The rumored Nexus 5, on the other hand, could be a totally different story. At Mobile World Congress this year, Qualcomm announced the RF360; A single chip capable of working on a staggering amount of networks. Everything from GSM, to EV-DO, to LTE. Unfortunately, it won’t be ready until the second half of the year. Or, right around the time when the Nexus 5 is rumored to launch.

If you were hoping to see the Nexus 5 at Google I/O, you shouldn’t hold your breath. Rumors on the Nexus 5 have been swirling for over a month now, but the timing is a bit off. Google still has a lot of life left in the Nexus 4, especially if this latest rumor comes true, and it’s updated with access to AT&T and T-Mobile LTE.

As for the Motorola X Phone, it’s hard to imagine it being tacked onto Google I/O. It’s totally possible, but if the Nexus 7 and an updated Nexus 4 with LTE are announced, along with Key Lime Pie, it’s highly unlikely Google would stuff the X Phone in there as well. Even more so if it really has been pushed back to August for release.

So, to answer the question, is Google really working on a 32GB Nexus 4 with LTE for Google I/O? It’s very possible. There was a refreshed Nexus 7 released, once Google had access to cheaper radios and storage, so that may be the case with a refreshed Nexus 4. Just keep in mind, the more you add to the rumor, the less reasonable it becomes. Supporting Sprint and Verizon CDMA and LTE, along with T-Mobile, who is the only official launch partner right now, and AT&T LTE doesn’t seem feasible. And releasing more than one new device, mid-cycle, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

Stealth Black HTC One appears on AT&T and Sprint sites

2013-04-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

Despite the name HTC wasn’t trying to stay under the radar of AT&T and Sprint customers with this alternative to the recently launched Glacial Silver One as they had previously stated that it would be available in the coming weeks. You still can’t hit the buy button on either site, however, HTC One fans are used to timelines slipping at this point so it should be of some comfort to see evidence that both carriers are likely ready to flip that switch soon.

AT&T is showing both the 32GB and their exclusive 64GB version of the Stealth Black One on their site with the simple message that “The device you’ve selected is not available in your area.” They are a little less forthcoming about it than Sprint though as you have to track the pages down on your own rather than being able to click through from the HTC One page.

Sprint is limited to the 32GB version, but they are actually showing the black version as an option and are a bit more helpful with their terse message, “Black HTC One Coming Soon.”

So are any of you still holding out for the ninja edition One (seriously HTC I think you missed an opportunity there) or did the anticipation of putting together all those awesome video highlights and Zoes get the better of you?

Via: Sprint

Source: AT&T

Top ten most popular Android Apps

2013-04-21T04:56:00.002-07:00

Every week we cover new Android apps with Fresh Meat on Wednesday, followed by Android Gaming on Thursday and Top 10 app updates on Friday (returning this week). Now every Monday we will look back and see which ones were the most crowd-pleasing among our audience. Read on for the 10 most popular Android apps among your peers from last week.

1. Facebook Home

Facebook is the world’s largest social network, so it’s no surprise that the new Facebook Home app was the most popular Android app last week. We tested out the app and found it had promise, but the coolest featured called Chat Heads is available in the stand alone Facebook Messenger app. Facebook Home is only supposed on a handful of devices, but MoDaCo has instructions if you want to side-load it on another device.

2. StatusAgenda

StatusAgenda is a free app that brings your calendars to your pull-down notification area. The app integrates with Google Calendar so there is nothing to set up. I normally have the a Calendar widget stuck to my home screen, so I have yet to test out StatusAgenda, but it currently has an average rating of 4.4 in the Google Play Store.

3. Twilight

Twilight got a lot of buzz in last week’s Fresh Meat column, and it appears the app might live up to the hype. The app makes your device screen adapt to the time of the day by filtering the blue spectrum on your phone or tablet after sunset and protecting your eyes with a soft and pleasant red filter. The average review score is 4.6, and I’m installing it right now.

4. InCall Recorder

InCall Recorder might be one of the first call recording apps that works well, and it’s actually free to install. Some users report it works great, while others say it’s not compatible with their device. Filter the Google Play reviews by your device to see what others are saying before you take the time to download it and try it out.

5. Burner

If you like to sell items on Craigslist and you need a disposable number, then Burner might be the solution you need. Burner maintains a pool of numbers that you can rent on-demand and then dispose of when no longer needed. The Android app comes with one free Burner number to test out, and then you will have to pay for continued use after that. The app was just released this week and it already received an update over the weekend, so keep sharing your feedback so that the developer can improve the experience.

6. Flatout: Stuntman

Last week’s most popular game was Flatout: Stuntman from Team6 Game Studious. The Flatout series is one of the most popular stunt titles on gaming consoles, and this mobile version delivers all the same exciting action. The game is optimized for Tegra-powered devices, but it runs on a wide variety of Android smartphones and tablets. It’s free to play, so check it out if you enjoy ragdoll fun.

7. Rando

Dustin wrote a brief preview of Rando last week, and I’m surprised it’s not higher up on this list. The simple app allows you to anonymously share photos with strangers and it’s strangely addicting. We normally take pics and upload them to get likes from people we know, so sharing a photo with a random stranger really changes the behavior of how you capture images. I have been playing with the app for the last week, and it still has me entertained.

8. Overkill 2

Overkill 2 is a new game for people that like to customize guns. This sequel to the popular original lets you modify 30 realistic 3D guns the way you feel they should be and then take them to the action. These stand-still type of shooters are not my thing, so I have yet to check it out.

9. Swizzle

Swizzle is a well designed app that can help anyone make cocktails and mix drinks like a bartender or mixologist. The app features thousands of drink recipes, including a selection of non alcoholic and virgin drinks. Additional features include a My Cabinet section that allows you to store your ingredients inventory, a built-in shopping list, and the ability to create your own recipies and share them with friends.

10. Fetch

Rounding out the Top 10 is Fetch, an app discovery platform that is powered by tags. Users can define the traits they are looking for in apps, and then Fetch creates a personalized feed of apps that match what they are looking for. The app allows you to follow some detailed traits like “button mashing,” “boss battles,” and “war games” so it’s easy to create a feed that will deliver apps you will love.

Facebook enables free voice calls in US via Messenger app

2013-04-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

Early this year Facebook started testing free voice calls in Canada via their Messenger app, and now the feature is slowly being rolled out to the US. If you have Facebook Messenger already installed, just open up your contacts list and click info on any person to see if there is an option for “Free call.”

Facebook calling works essentially the same way as any other V0IP service, such as Skype, but Facebook has the huge advantage of being the largest social network and having access to all your contacts.

I tested out the Facebook free calling feature last night and found the voice quality was pretty good. Calls can be made over a WiFi network or a cellular network. Facebook warns users that they still have to pay for data, but we are not sure exactly how much data a call consumes.

Most carriers now provide unlimited minutes, so there might not be an immediate advantage to making a VoIP call when data consumption is often limited. However, there are still a lot of people on older plans that have limited minutes and unlimited data, so Facebook calling could be appealing to them.

The feature is slowly being rolled out to Facebook accounts in the US, so don’t worry if it’s not available yet. If you have a Facebook account and want to test it out, grab Facebook Messenger from the link below.

HTC One now on sale across US, Developer Edition delayed

2013-04-20T23:21:00.001-07:00

After a small delay, the HTC One is now available for purchase at AT&T and Sprint retail stores. HTC also notes their new flagship phone will be available at Best Buy, Radio Shack, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Costco, Car Toys, HSN.com and Amazon.com. T-Mobile has begun their pre-order program and they expect their version of the device to hit stores on April 24th. Unfortunately, those who pre-ordered the 32GB unlocked and 64GB Developer Edition will have to wait at least another week.

Today we received an email with an update to our online order of the HTC One Developer Edition. HTC states there were “shipping issues” which caused a “slight delay”, but they still expect the phones to be delivered by the “end of April.” To make up for the delay, all orders will be delivered via overnight shipping. Also due to “overwhelming demand”, those who purchased the Double Dip cases will not receive their order till “mid-May.”

It’s unfortunate that some orders were delayed, but at least two carriers put the device on sale today. If you were lucky enough to pick up your HTC One already, please share your initial impressions in the comments below.

RoundR is my new Android app obsession

2013-04-20T12:12:00.001-07:00

Rando? Rando is so last week (OK, I still use it every day, but you have to admit that sounded good). The new Android app I can’t stop gushing about to everyone and anyone who has an Android phone is RoundR. Because my phone’s display now has rounded corners. And rounded corners are cool. (Just like bow ties. Or fezes. Or Stetsons. Take your pick).

Featured in Taylor’s Fresh Meat 10 new apps roundup, RoundR serves only one purpose: to round the corners of your display. That’s it. I’ve been using it since yesterday, and the novelty has yet to wear off. I absolutely love it. Performance wise, it serves zero purpose. In fact, some even say it degrades performance. (I did not find this to be true). RoundR merely exists to provide you aesthetic pleasure. Simply open the app, choose which corners to round, choose the corner radius, and you’re done.

Just about anyone I’ve shown RoundR to looks at me in a way that makes me think they are assessing my sanity, followed by a comment along the lines of, “Oh yeah, that’s neat.” Perhaps my enthusiasm towards turning my Nexus 4 into a webOS lookalike is a bit over the top, but I really, really like it. RoundR makes every app look fresh; It breathes new life into stale software. The same boring apps I’ve been using for years now have a new visual appeal, something I can normally only experience by taking drastic measures like switching operating systems.

I’ll tell you what. Download RoundR, give it a shot, and if you don’t like it, well, just uninstall it. It’s free, so you have nothing to lose, and in my opinion, a lot to gain.

Best unlocked Android phone for any budget: April 2013

2013-04-20T11:51:00.001-07:00

Last year I made the jump to using unlocked Android phones on no-contract wireless plans, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I saved a ton of money on my monthly bill, I can choose any Android phone I want, and I no longer have to rely on carriers to deliver my software updates.

If unlocked phones with no-contract plans are so great, then why aren’t more people shredding their contracts and switching? T-Mobile is leading the way with their new Simple Choice plans, and we expect the selection of unlocked devices will continue to grow.

For consumers on a tight budget, switcing to the unlocked world can be challenging at first. The cost of leaving your carrier during the middle of a contract and the cost of buying an unlocked phone could force you to spend 3-6x times your monthly carrier bill.

Once you get past the initial expenses, your savings could quickly add up. I switched from Verizon to Straight Talk (AT&T) and then to Solavei (T-Mobile), which instantly saved me around $50 per month, or roughly $600 per year. That same $600 is about the cost of most high-end Android phones that are unlocked and sold without a service contract. This means your potential first-year savings could absorb the entire cost of any new Android phone you want.

After making the switch to using unlocked Android phones, I see no real reason to return to the land of locked phones and post-paid service plans. I have the freedom to choose the device I want, I can choose what network it operates on, I can decide what software it runs, and I can switch from device to device, and carrier to carrier, without signing another contract.

There are many places to purchase unlocked phones, and I have found that Amazon Wireless offers the largest selection, lowest prices, and fastest shipping service. I’m a member of Amazon Prime so I get free 2-day shipping on most items, but it’s still a good deal even with shipping added in.

If you are considering making the switch to an unlocked phone, here is some advice from someone that already made the journey.

What is an unlocked phone?

Unlocked devices are phones that recognize SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) cards from any carrier. A locked phone will only recognize a SIM card from a particular carrier. The “lock” is a software setting that keeps the cell phone “loyal” to one carrier.
Why should I buy an unlocked phone?

We have already touched on some reasons to shred your wireless contract, but I’ll recap some of the highlights.
Unlocked phones cost less in the long run. Do the math.
Unlocked phones are not altered by a carrier. No need to worry about crap apps or gimped hardware.
Unlocked phones receive Android updates faster, directly from the manufacturer.
Unlocked phones give consumers more control of plans and pricing. No contracts, no commitments, no hidden fees.
Unlocked phones have a higher resale value.

Check out 7 Things you should know about no-contract smartphone service before you switch for more info.

Why should I not buy an unlocked phone?

Unlocked phones are not for everyone. Some reasons you might want to pass on unlocked phones include:
4G LTE access is limited. T-Mobile finally has no-contract plans that support unlocked LTE devices, but their LTE network only covers seven cities. In the future we will see pre-paid service plans with 4G LTE from more MVNOs, but right now you are limited to T-Mobile.
Large families might be better off with a post-paid plan that has shared data. Rates vary from carrier to carrier, but a family plan with shared minutes and data might be cheaper than a bunch of individual no-contract plans.
No in-store support for most plans (T-Mobile Simple Choice is the exception). If you enjoy walking into your local carrier store to get support with your phone, then you might pass on an unlocked device. Most carriers will not provide support for a device they did not sell, so you will have to turn to the manufacturer for help and warranty claims.

What US networks support unlocked phones?

AT&T and T-Mobile both use the GSM standard and support unlocked phones. Verizon and Sprint rely on the CDMA (Code division multiple access) standard and they will not work with unlocked GSM phones.

Most unlocked phones that were designed for the international market will have no problems running on AT&T’s network. T-Mobile USA uses different HSPA+ bands (1700/2100 MHz), which most international phones do not support, but they are currently refarming their network to support more phones.

T-Mobile is rolling out HSPA+ service on the 1900 MHz band, so they are starting to support many unlocked devices at faster data speeds in select markets. Currently, T-Mobile covers over 50 markets and 142 million people with their new 1900 MHz network. For areas that have not been upgraded, unlocked phones will still operate on T-Mobile’s 2G Edge network.
AT&T HSPA+ bands: 850/1900 MHz
T-Mobile HSPA+ bands: 1700/2100 MHz, 1900 MHz is 50+ markets (See airportal.de for 1900mhz coverage map)

Some devices like the Nexus 4 support up to five bands (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz) and will operate on both AT&T and T-Mobile with no problems. Check the bands on an unlocked phone before you make your purchase.
What are the best service plans for unlocked phones?

This topic deserves a separate post (coming soon), but here is a quick summary. Unlocked phones can be used on most of AT&T’s and T-Mobile’s service plans. You can also go with a reseller like Straight Talk SIM, Simple Mobile, or Solavei for additional savings.

I initially chose Straight Talk SIM because they let you choose between AT&T’s or T-Mobile’s network. Eventually, I ended up with Solavei (T-Mobile) since they offer the most data (4 GB) and a referral program.
Tips for Buying from Amazon

Check who is selling and fulfilling the product: Amazon uses a number of sellers throughout their site. Each product listing will have a featured merchant, but click through the list of sellers to review all your buying options. Some products are shipped by the seller and others are fulfilled through Amazon’s own warehouses. Amazon provides reviews for each seller, so read up on the recent comments if you have any concerns.

Prices will fluctuate daily: You might notice prices jumping up and down before you buy, so keep an eye on the sale prices. One seller might offer a device for $30 cheaper than the competition, but they will sell out and the price will jump back up.

Amazon guarantee: You can buy with confidence because Amazon offers A-to-z Guarantee Protection. The condition of the item you buy and its timely delivery are guaranteed.

Read the reviews: We are providing our picks for the best unlocked Android phone at every price point, but don’t take us as the final word. I encourage you to read the user reviews to see what people are saying about the product.
Best unlocked phone for $600-699: Sony Xperia Z

Original Release Date: February 2013

The Good: Full 1080p HD on a large 5” display, 13 megapixel camera with Sony Exmor RS sensor and HDR video capture, fast quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, NFC, water-resistant, frame is made from glass fiber polyamide.

The Not-so-good: High price, some say the viewing angles on the display are not the best.

Networks supported: AT&T 4G HSPA+, T-Mobile 4G HSPA+ (in select cities)

Last Amazon price: $668, down $120 from last month

Final Words: This is Sony’s best smartphone, but the price is hard to justify when you compare it with other devices. It did drop over $100 from last month, but we think the new HTC One or upcoming Samsung Galaxy S 4 are better picks.
Best unlocked phone for $500-599: HTC One

Original Release Date: April 2013

The Good: 4.7 inch 1080p display, dual front-facing speakers, amazing camera experience, latest Snapdragon 600 CPU, beautiful design, works with LTE on AT&T and T-Mobile.

The Not-so-good: No expandable storage, no removable battery.

Networks supported: AT&T 4G HSPA+/LTE, T-Mobile 4G HSPA+/LTE (in select cities)

Last HTC price: $574 for 32 GB, $649 for 64 GB

Final Words: The HTC One is our current favorite phone and it’s good to see HTC selling these devices unlocked from their online store. Quantities might be limited, so it could be hard to grab one for awhile.
Best unlocked phone for $400-499: Samsung Galaxy S III

Original Release Date: May 2012

The Good: Large HD display, fast Exynos 4 Quad processor, 1 GB RAM, Android 4.1, great camera experience, NFC, hacker friendly, removable battery, microSD slot.

The Not-so-good: After extended use, I prefer the camera experience on the HTC One X.

Networks supported: AT&T 4G HSPA+, T-Mobile 4G HSPA+ (in select cities)

Last Amazon price: $449, prices are down $50 from December

Final Words: The Galaxy S III is still one of the best Android phones, but it will soon be replaced by the new Galaxy S 4. This would explain why the price has dropped $50 from last month and over $100 from a couple months ago.
Best unlocked phone for $300-399: Sony Xperia SL

Original Release Date: September 2012

The Good: 4.3 inch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA Engine, 12 megapixel camera with Exmor R sensor, fast dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, NFC, 32 GB of internal storage, Android 4.1.

The not-so-good: No expandable storage.

Networks supported: AT&T 4G HSPA+, T-Mobile 4G HSPA+ (in select cities)

Last Amazon Price: $365, down $25 from last month

Final Words: The Sony Xperia SL is a great device, but it is kind of stuck in the middle. I would suggest getting the LG Nexus 4 or spending the extra cash and get the Samsung Galaxy S III or HTC One.
Best unlocked phone for $200-299: LG Nexus 4

Original Release Date: November 2012

The Good: Pure Android experience, updates straight from Google, NFC, wireless charging, beautiful display, fast Snapdragon S4 Pro processor.

The not-so-good: No expandable storage, no removable battery, camera is not as good as SGS3 or HTC One, glass back can crack.

Networks supported: AT&T 4G HSPA+, T-Mobile 4G HSPA+

Last Google Price: $299 for 8 GB, $349 for 16 GB, prices are unchanged from December

Final Words: This is the best unlocked Android phone for the price. It doesn’t have expandable storage and a removable battery like the Galaxy S III, but this device is selling for a lot less.
Best unlocked phone for $100-199: Sony Xperia E Dual

Original Release Date: April 2013

The Good: 3.5-inch display, 1 GHz Snapdragon CPU, 3.1 MP camera, expandable storage, dual-SIM slots, ships with Jelly Bean Android 4.1.

The not-so-good: Limited internal storage (4GB), no NFC.

Networks supported: AT&T 4G HSPA+, T-Mobile 4G HSPA+ (in select cities)

Last Amazon Price: $159, new to the list this month

Final Words: The new Xperia E Dual replaces the older Xperia U for the $100-199 price point. Sony stopped updating the Xperia U at Android 4.0, and the new Xperia E Dual ships with Android 4.1. The hardware specs are not super impressive, but it’s a good value for the current price.
Best unlocked phone for $0-99: Huawei Ideos

Original Release Date: September 2010

The Good: Low price point, stock Android UI.

The not-so-good: Stuck on Android 2.2, small 2.8 inch display, limited internal storage.

Networks supported: AT&T 4G HSPA+, T-Mobile 4G HSPA+

Last Amazon Price: $79, new to the list this month

Final Words: You get what you pay for, but the Huawei Ideos is a decent disposable phone for only $79.
Wrapping Things Up

When it comes to unlocked phones, the LG Nexus 4 is still the king when you consider the bang for the buck. It provides one of the best overall experiences and Google is selling it for half the price of competing phones. This would explain why the device has been extremely hard to get.

Our other top pick is the new HTC One. It tops the LG Nexus 4 in almost every way possible, but you are going to pay extra for the premium camera experience and aluminum unibody design.

The other thing to keep an eye on is the rumored Motorola X Phone, which could debut around Google IO in May. There is a good chance that this device might be sold through the Google Play Store, so it could be priced lower than the top high-end unlocked phones.

Looking down the list, it is pretty impressive that you can get an Android 4.1 device for under $200. Once you dip below $100 you start to see the choices drop off, but that should improve later this year. Amazon doesn’t sell too many phones from the Chinese manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE, but those companies are helping to drive down prices of the entry-level phones.

Let us know if you spot any unlocked devices that might be a better pick at any of the price points. We plan to regularly update this list as we search out the best deals for unlocked Android phones.

Petition against Verizon wireless contracts nears 100k signatures

2013-04-20T11:47:00.002-07:00

Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam recently said it would be ”pretty easy” to eliminate wireless contracts if consumers started asking for it, so a Verizon customer and blogger from Wichita, Kansas, started a Change.org petition to get the ball rolling. In his petition, Mike Beauchamp says that “this has the potential to change the entire wireless industry” and he asks others to join his movement.

“I’ve been a long-time Verizon customer and I don’t see myself ever leaving, but I want that choice myself,” said Beauchamp. “I don’t want them making it for me and imposing stiff penalties if I do decide to leave.”

Pre-paid plans are already available on Verizon, but Beauchamp says that is not enough. “Pricing phones so high, sometimes 600 dollars or more, doesn’t really make it a true option for most people,” he told Change.org on the phone. “The second call to action on my petition is for Verizon to come up with better ways for customers to purchase devices affordably. Whether that’s with a payment plan or by some other means, they can do better.”

Beaucamp will get his wish on his second call to action because Verizon recently said their device payment plan will be expanded to smartphones later this year.

Part of me finds online petitions kind of silly when customers can just vote with their wallet and switch to a no-contract carrier. T-Mobile recently dropped contracts and started offering installment plans for devices, so there are options available. Verizon customers can also take their devices to Page Plus Cellular and sign up for a no-contract plan on Verizon’s network.

Yesterday the petition had 60k signatures, and it quickly jumped to 90k today after it was posted to several tech blogs. That’s a small portion of Verizon’s 93 million customers, but at least it’s a start. If you would like to join the growing list of customers against wireless contracts, then hit up the source link and add your name.

World’s first Tegra 4 smartphone spotted in China?

2013-04-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

When NVIDIA announced their new Tegra 4 chip, ZTE quickly committed to being the first partner to produce smartphones with both NVIDIA’s Tegra 4 processor and i500 LTE modem. Thanks to a new leak from China, we might now have our first look at ZTE’s latest Android device.

The ZTE N988 is rumored to include a Tegra 4 chip, 5.7-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixels, 2GB of RAM, 13 megapixel rear camera, and 2 megapixel front-facing camera. The 720p display resolution is a little weird since ZTE has already moved on to 1080p displays in their flagship phones, so these specs might not be final.

ZTE originally said they expected to launch the first Tegra 4 super phones in China in the first half of 2013, but we are not sure if they will meet that deadline with only two months left. NVIDIA also said their Tegra 4-powered Project Shield would debut in Q2, but we have yet to receive the actual pricing and availability.

NVIDIA’s Tegra 4 boasts some impressive performance with it’s quad-core Cortex-A15 CPUs and 72-core GeForce GPU, but the company has said they expect mobile chip sales to remain flat this year. NVIDIA revealed that Tegra 4 is launching later than they had planned, because they pulled away some resourced to move up the launch of Tegra 4i, their first chip with integrated LTE.

We have seen ZTE make advances in the US market, so there is a chance this device could come stateside. However, NVIDIA’s i500 LTE modem does not support CDMA so you can rule out availability on Verizon or Sprint. There is a chance we could see ZTE pair the Tegra 4 chip with a Qualcomm modem (like AT&T did with their HTC One X+), but we will have to wait and see.

Virtually every high-end Android smartphone sold in the US this year will include a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, so let’s hope that NVIDIA is successful with Tegra 4 so we can see more competition in the mobile SoC market.

Apple required to post a notice that the Samsung Galaxy Tab does not copy Apple’s iPad design

2012-07-18T21:25:00.001-07:00

A few weeks back, a UK judge ruled that the Samsung galaxy Tab was “not as cool” as the iPad and dismissed Apples claims that Samsung had copied the design of its tablet. While Samsung may have been offended by the backhanded victory it was given, we’re fairly certain that their lawyers and executives are popping open the champagne bottles after hearing today’s news.

In order to fix the “damaging impression the South Korea-based company was copying Apple’s product” Apple will be required to post a notice in newspapers, magazines and on its UK website which states that the Samsung Galaxy Tab does not copy Apple’s iPad design. The notice will refer to the July 9th court ruling and will be posted on the home page of Apple’s website for six months.

While the patent system may be completely screwed up, we’re glad to see judges handing out unusual punishments to those who initiate the lawsuits. There’s no telling how this outcome will affect the sales of the iPad or the Galaxy Tab, but we’re sure Apple will be a little more careful next time they try to sue their competition in the UK.

Via: Engadget

Source: Bloomberg

Sprint LTE is alive in Georgia, Kansas, Missouri and Texas

2012-07-17T04:50:00.002-07:00

With Sprint’s first foray into 4G perhaps now suitably behind them, they have hit the switch on their LTE network and can begin to try in earnest to catch up with Verizon and AT&T before T-Mobile can get in on the party next year.

Sprint is easing it’s way into things with less than a dozen areas being brought into the warm embrace of their LTE.

Today’s lucky few include; Atlanta, Georgia; Newnan, Georgia; Rome; Georgia; Kansas City, Kansas; St. Joseph, Missouri; Austin, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Forth Worth, Texas; Houston, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; and Waco, Texas.

There have been isolated reports of LTE activity flickering in other areas, but this is it for the official lineup at the moment.

If you are one of the chosen few that is both in a Sprint LTE area and has an LTE handset (Galaxy Nexus, Viper, EVO 4G LTE, or Galaxy S III) we would love to see what kind of speeds you are pulling at the moment as you are probably looking at the best case scenario right now before everyone else starts piling on.

You can of course look forward to a turbo boost again next year when Sprint plans to bring LTE-Advanced to the table, which will be the first true 4G technology to hit the U.S. They won’t be alone with at least AT&T and T-Mobile having their sights set on a 2013 launch for their own LTE-Advanced efforts.

Finally, if you prefer to get your carrier news in cheesy video format I have some excellent news for you, Sprint made the following with you in mind.

Nexus 7 a hit with consumers, selling out across the US

2012-07-17T04:28:00.001-07:00

All across the web, from the most popular tech blogs online, to even the most devout Apple fans, the Nexus 7 is being hailed as a huge success. And real world sales show it.

Google, GameStop, Staples, Office Depot and Sam’s Club have all run out of Nexus 7s, and have posted one to three week delays on availability for the tablet.

The Google Play store lists the Nexus 7 as shipping soon, which could mean up to couple weeks. Staples, Sam’s Club and Office Depot show it as temporarily out of stock. And GameStop, who is currently offering up 30% extra in in-store credit for anyone trading in used games or hardware towards a Nexus 7, has come forward saying they don’t expect another shipment of the tablets until August 5th, for which they are taking pre-orders for now.

The size, design, high quality display and ultra fast processor in the Nexus 7 make for an excellent hardware experience. Thanks to Jelly Bean, and the addition of Google Now and Project Butter, the software on the Nexus 7 is the best on any Android device ever released. At $300, the Nexus 7 would be a good deal. At just $199, it’s a steal.

If you’re on the hunt for a Nexus 7, good luck. Apparently, you’re going to need it.

Source: Cnet