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LG announces quad-core Optimus 4X HD
Feb 23rd
LG just couldn’t contain themselves and decided to unveil their entire 2012 lineup before Mobile World Congress. Tonight the Korean company has officially announced the Optimus 4X HD. This is the quad-core beast formerly known as the LG X3 and also the same phone that we think will launch as the T-Mobile G4X.
The main attraction of the Optimus 4X HD is of course the Tegra 3 processor which features 4-PLUS-1 CPU cores. Right now the official press release out of Korea does not include the full specs, so we will have to wait for MWC to find out the full list of hardware.
Confirmed specs of the Optimus 4X HD include:
- Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
- 1.5 GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor
- 4.7 inch 720p True HD IPS display
- 8 megapixel rear camera, 1.3 megapixel front camera
- 1 GB RAM, 16 GB internal storage
- 2150 mAh battery
- Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, WiFi 802.11b/g/n
- MHL, DLNA, etc.
- 8.9 mm thick
- SHSPA+ 21 Mbps support
One version of the press release claims the Optimus 4X HD would ship with Android 4.0, so this would be LG’s first device with Ice Cream Sandwich. As more details continue to roll in, we will update this post.
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How will Google top last year’s Android booth at MWC?
Feb 22nd
Last year at Mobile World Congress, Google had the coolest booth at the show, literally. I bet I downed a dozen of their fruit smoothies. This year they are planning something even more over the top, and they have a countdown teaser on their MWC page. Check out last year’s festivities in the video below and let us know what you would like to see this year.
LG Cayman, Droid Fighter tipped for Verizon lineup
Feb 22nd
Two of Verizon’s upcoming spring handsets have been leaked online, giving us a pair of new Android smartphones to look forward to seeing. Thanks to the guys at Droid Life we now have a Droid Fighter and LG Cayman on our radar.
Given that we’ve just learned of the new models we don’t quite know what to expect out of them. Generally speaking, Motorola tends to own the Droid branding on Verizon however there have been instances of LG, Samsung, and HTC. With multiple new models expected across various OEMs at next week’s Mobile World Congress, it stands to reason that we’ve yet to see which device will be a Droid Fighter.
One model to consider for this moniker could be the HTC smartphone leaked a few weeks back. Some may recall learning of the very Incredible-like form factor and Verizon 4G connectivity. Could an HTC Fireball be the Droid Fighter? Why not go with an Incredible 3?
Getting to the LG Cayman it’s even harder to guess which model is on the horizon. As many of you know, LG has been on a tear lately, announcing one device after another. Our gut tells us that it’s a quad-core Optimus 4X but we’ll find out soon enough.
Assuming that the “workshop” stuff is tied to launch dates, the LG Cayman is expected on March 29th with the Droid Fighter arriving April 12th.
LG Cayman, Droid Fighter tipped for Verizon lineup originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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T-Mobile’s Cliq 2 set to receive Gingerbread update, Motorola seeking testers
Feb 22nd
Since a leak back in the summer, we haven’t heard a whole lot about the Gingerbread update for the Motorola CLIQ 2. Moto had had plenty of time to work out the kinks and a post to the manufacturer’s support forums indicates the new software is entering its final phases of testing. Testers are being sought to receive the OS upgrade for the T-Mobile handset early. This soak test, which will be limited to 1,000 users, is typically the last step before a wider rollout (provided no last minute bugs are detected).
It could be any where from a few days to a few weeks before Motorola and T-Mobile push the update to all users, but if you want to throw your hat in for the testing round (if it isn’t already full) head over to the source link below.
[Motorola via DroidDog]
Intel preparing to launch mobile processors at MWC?
Feb 22nd
Mobile World Congress is edging closer and closer, and rumor has it that Intel is planning to show off their first mobile-based processors there. Apparently, they’re going with the name of Medfield, at least for the time being, to refer to their mobile processors. We already know that Motorola and Lenovo are on the list to get these chips, so we expect something on that in Barcelona next week. Word on the street also points to Atom-based processors, so there might be more than one avenue to follow.
It’s worth noting that currently, Intel’s mobile processors will only be able to handle 3G speeds, so unless they come up with a 4G chipset, they might be out of the game before they even get started. Intel reportedly plans to introduce basic chipsets first, and gradually release more powerful and advanced processors. Something about that tells me they won’t be very successful in a rapidly changing market like this one, but only time will tell.
Analyst Patrick Moorhead had this to say about Intel’s entrance into the smartphone market:
While Intel has a long way to go in proving themselves, they have the start they never had before at a time to take advantage of the mammoth growth in smartphones. Never count Intel out.
More on this as it develops. So what do you think about the 3G limitations of Intel’s first mobile processors? Anyone think Intel will rise to new heights in the smartphone market? Let us know in the comments!
Source Statesman
Intel preparing to launch mobile processors at MWC? originally appeared on AndroidGuys.
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T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G Officially Announced (Again) – Launch Date And Pricing Revealed
Feb 22nd
A device that almost got lost in the CES 2012 hooplah, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G has finally been given a more pinpointed release date for T-Mobile. The device’s most notable feature is the fact that it will run on T-Mobile’s super fast HSPA+ 42Mbps down network.
and will run off of a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor with the latest version of Android Gingerbread pre-installed. The device, which shares some stylings and screen size from the Nexus S, features a 3.97 (I’ll go ahead and call it a 4-inch) SAMOLED display. It’s also a bit more affordable than its Hercules brother, carrying an affordable 0 price-tag (after mail-in rebate).
You can expect the device in “late March” with no actual specific date given but I guess it’s better than nothing. Anyone interested in the Galaxy S Blaze?
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Feb. 22, 2012 – T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.,1 today confirmed the upcoming March availability of the Samsung Galaxy S® Blaze™ 4G, exclusively from T-Mobile®. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G is the latest addition to the successful Galaxy S line of products, and T-Mobile’s newest fast 4G smartphone to take advantage of 4G (HSPA+42) technology, providing customers with the ability to browse the Web faster than the average home Internet2 connection while on the go.
Consumers are increasingly demanding more from their smartphones — keeping them entertained, staying connected with loved ones and enabling them to complete more tasks using a single device. A recent T-Mobile survey3 found 79 percent of smartphone users are less likely to carry other technology devices, such as cameras, laptops and GPS devices, when they have their smartphone.
T-Mobile’s newest 4G smartphone offers a variety of features and applications to help consumers be entertained and have access to the information they need when they need it. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G entertainment offerings make it easy for T-Mobile customers to stream their favorite movies on Netflix®, enjoy live or on-demand TV programs on T-Mobile® TV in mobile HD4 or download a popular movie or TV show using Samsung Media Hub. Additionally, the smartphone features TeleNav GPS Navigator, which provides hands-free, voice-guided turn-by-turn driving directions, real-time traffic alerts, full-color 3-D moving maps and local alerts, helping customers get to where they need to go. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G also comes preloaded with a customized version of the Yelp mobile application, featuring the ability to save profiles so users can keep preferences the same with one touch in any city, making it easy to find and read reviews for local places to eat, shop, drink and play.
Also pre-loaded on the device, the T-Mobile 4GPro App Pack offers an aggregation of key business applications, such as DropBox, Evernote, Square, TripIt, Camscanner and LinkedIn, helping busy consumers be even more productive while balancing their professional and personal lives.
"The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is loaded with rich features and services to keep consumers entertained and connected virtually anywhere they want to go," said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. "Paired with T-Mobile’s fast 4G network and our unlimited data plans, we’re making it easy for consumers to enjoy the benefits of 4G experiences at a price they can afford."
Featuring a sleek and stylish form factor, the smartphone comes in a carbon black color and runs on Android™ 2.3 Gingerbread. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G also features a Snapdragon™ S3 processor by Qualcomm® with 1.5 GHz dual-core CPUs and a beautiful 3.97-inch Super AMOLED™ touch screen providing consumers with a rich experience watching their favorite movie or TV show on the device.
The Galaxy S Blaze 4G also makes it easy to connect and share photos and video with loved ones. It features a 720p HD video recorder, 5-megapixel camera with 4x digital zoom, flash and advanced shooting modes, as well as a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat.
Availability
The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is expected to be available at T-Mobile retail stores, select dealers and retailers nationwide, and online at http://www.t-mobile.com starting late March. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G is expected to cost 9.99 after a mail-in rebate card, with a two-year service agreement and qualifying Classic voice and data plan. For more information, visit http://galaxy-s.t-mobile.com/
samsung-galaxy-blaze .
