Android Apps: June 2012

This Week In The Life Of DROID: 6/29/2012

google io 650x403 This Week In The Life Of DROID: 6/29/2012

Well, folks, Google I/O 2012 has come to an end and what a ride it has been. We have new devices and a whole new OS to celebrate. Once Jelly Bean is released to AOSP in mid-July, almost all device owners can expect to see the JB goodies start to leak out and everyone will be happy. If you happened to miss the biggest week in Android news this year, here's the recap.

We hope you enjoyed the week as much as we have.

Saturday Poll: Are You Interested in the Nexus Q?

Nexus Q 650x366 Saturday Poll: Are You Interested in the Nexus Q?

We are waiting to get back to our home networks to set up and play with our Nexus Q media players. There is still a lot of possible confusion as to what exactly this thing does, but one thing we do know, is that it has been built like a tank. It's purpose is to

HTC One V now available from Virgin Mobile USA for $199.99

The HTC One V is now available from Virgin Mobile USA for $199.99. Virgin Mobile's introduction of the HTC One V caught us completely off guard. When HTC first unveiled the handset at Mobile World Congress, rumors started going around that we would see a Virgin Mobile variant in the U.S. – but the news pretty much stopped there.

Though Virgin Mobile's HTC EVO V 4G may feature a more impressive spec sheet with a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor, 4.3-inch display, two 5 megapixel cameras for capturing 3D images and video, we'd probably opt for the smaller HTC One V. This latest handset may only feature a 1Ghz single-core processor and a 3.7-inch display, but it comes with HTC Sense 4.0, a longer lasting battery and a 5 megapixel camera with HTC's new ImageSense technology coupled with a dedicated ImageChip to which

Flash Player won’t be updated for Android 4.1 – Adobe to block new installs on August 15th

Back in November, Adobe announced that they would

ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity Review

In the battle to steal Android tablet market and mind share from Samsung, it would be hard to argue against ASUS as the most formidable combatant.

Their solid build quality, powerful hardware and typically light skinning of Android has endeared them to Android fans (the newly announced Nexus 7 confirms that Google feels the same way). The Transformer line is perhaps the best personification of this as, much like the original Motorola Droid, it seems to position itself as the anti-iPad. It tops the iPad specs in nearly every category and is typically depicted with its signature keyboard attached, something which is likely anathema to Apple.

The Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 (Infinity) is the new king of the hill for ASUS with a full HD screen added to the familiar form factor of the Transformer line and I've had several days to put it through its paces. ASUS has undeniably delivered the specs with this latest installment, but how does it stack up as a total package?

1. Internal hardware

As advertised in the lead-in the Infinity really blows the doors off the current competition in the specs department with the iPad's screen being the lone possible exception:

1.7GHz (single-core in use) 1.6GHz (2-4 cores in use) NVIDIA Tegra 3 T33 processor
1GB of DDR3 RAM
32 or 64 GB of internal storage with microSD expansion
10-inch Super IPS+ 1920×1200

Flipboard drops beta tag, adds Google+ and YouTube support

Flipboard for Android was previously available as a public beta, but has now ditched the beta tag and released onto the Google Play Store. In light of it's full release, Flipboard for Android has added new features, most notably support for Google+ and YouTube, meaning you can get those feeds directly in your Flipboard stream in addition to the customary Facebook, Twitter, RSS, and other feeds.

As we'd expect, the final release allows you to share stories with all your installed services, and also adds localized editions for Germany, Korea, Italy, Spain and The Netherlands. This brings the total number of localized editions to 12, as Flipboard had previously supported the United States, UK, Canada, China, Japan, France and Australia. Also added is the option to go full screen, ditching the menu bar in favor of added screen real estate.

Flipboard is one application that's always installed on my phone, and I highly recommend you give it a download as well. Flipboard is now available for free on the Google Play Store, and you can easily download using the app bar below. Let us know what you think of Flipboard in the comments.

DROID RAZR and MAXX ICS Soak Test is Live

Screenshot 2012 06 23 08 27 49 365x650 DROID RAZR and MAXX ICS Soak Test is Live

We are getting closer, people. DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX owners that hang out over at Motorola's Support Forums have started to receive "soak test" builds of the Ice Cream Sandwich update that you are all waiting patiently for. When this happens, that means the test has officially begun. Once they have had a chance to play with it for up to a week (hopefully less time in this scenario), then the update gets a final approval and is made available to the public.

If you missed any of our coverage of the update so far, be sure to check it all out so that you are an Android 4.0.4 pro. Here is the full changelog and highlight list for the update. Here is an intro video from Motorola. Here is info on the leak

This Week In the Life of DROID: 6/22/2012

droidlife2 e1340397741708 This Week In the Life of DROID: 6/22/2012

This time next week, Google will have spilled the

Google lists HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus as the first to get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Did Google just out the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus as the first device to get Jelly Bean (which is apparently coming "soon"), confirm that it will indeed by Android 4.1 (not 5.0) and give us a small, blurry look at what to expect with the next major update? Yes, yes and it looks like yes.

jell bean nexus 300x94 Google lists HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus as the first to get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Thanks to the checkout page for the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus sold on Google Play, we now know that the next major release of Android, Jelly Bean, will be 4.1.

First spotted by an XDA member, I was not able to recreate the screenshot showing Jelly Bean in association with Android 4.1. But Kellex of DroidLife has been able to confirm that when purchasing the Galaxy Nexus through his account, the final confirmation page lists the device as, "the latest smartphone from Google, soon the first phone with Android 4.1 Jell…"

I was able to view a new icon for the Galaxy Nexus showing a modified Google search bar (the same one featured in the listing for the I/O 2012 app), assumed to be a part of Jelly Bean, lending even more credibility the the accuracy of today's discovery.

At this point, we had already assumed that Jelly Bean would end up being Android 4.1, and that the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus would be the first device to receive the update. If anything, this is just a little bit of confirmation that we were thinking in the right direction.

Will we see Android 4.1, Jelly Bean unveiled at Google I/O next week? I think we can confidently say yes. As for when the update will actually reach HSPA+ handsets, "soon" could mean anything. Could be during the announcement, could be a month from now. Verizon and Sprint users, who knows how long it could take for your device to finally get the update. Hopefully it won't be another six months like last time, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the wait extend into the 4th quarter of the year. Either way, we should know more in just a couple more days now.

jellybean 650x315 Google lists HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus as the first to get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

HTC Creating “Top Secret” Dog Translator…err Whisperer?

htc dog HTC Creating

HTC posted this picture today to their Facebook page with the quote, "Ever wonder what your pet has been trying to tell you all these years?" We are pretty sure that they aren't actually hinting at something and are

DROID RAZR ICS Update Removes “3G Only” Option, Here’s How to Manually Toggle It

Screenshot 2012 06 23 09 37 52 365x650 DROID RAZR ICS Update Removes

For whatever reason, Verizon and Motorola have removed the option under Mobile Network Settings to switch to "CDMA Only" in the Ice Cream Sandwich update that is headed to RAZRs over the next few days. For anyone that doesn't have a RAZR MAXX, this is a problem, as LTE destroys batteries faster than you can charge them. In place of the former "CDMA Only" option is a "Global" feature for those that travel the world. Why they didn't leave the old option and simply add "Global" to the list is a great mystery, but don't worry, we have a way to get you onto 3G and saving batteries in just a few steps.

Reminder: You Can Uninstall or Disable Most of the Bloatware in ICS on the RAZR

Screenshot 2012 06 23 08 57 22 365x650 Reminder: You Can Uninstall or Disable Most of the Bloatware in ICS on the RAZR

Pinterest for Android Arriving Next Week?

pinterest android1 562x650 Pinterest for Android Arriving Next Week?

How exciting, Pinterest appears to be headed for its Android debut next week at Google I/O. How do we know? Well, the official Google I/O app has every woman's favorite obsession app listed in the Sandbox as a presenter. That basically means that they will have some sort of spot set up on level 2 of the Moscone Center to let everyone take their newest creation for a test drive. Many times, these Sandbox presenters are showing off future releases of apps, however, the listing for Pinterest mentions specifically that the app is "now available for Android." It's not yet, but likely will be within the next 2-3 days.

Ladies, how you feeling? Your cupcakes, shirtless men, Louboutins, and celebrity outfits will soon become mobile.

Via:

SwiftKey 3: out of beta, into awesome

I've spent a healthy amount of time with just about every software keyboard imaginable. From dozens of alternatives on Android (some as good as Swype, and some as different as 8pen), to other operating systems like Windows Phone and iOS. And none of them come close to my absolute favorite, SwiftKey. Why bring this up now? Because SwiftKey 3 has just come out of it's beta phase, and is available now on Google Play and the Amazon Appstore, where it's half off for a limited time.

If you haven't used SwiftKey in the past, the keyboard's main selling point is that it not only predicts the text you're currently typing, but what will come next. SwiftKey learns your typing habits from your Facebook, Gmail, Twitter, RSS and text messages to provide customized suggestions.

A lot of work has gone into making SwiftKey the best version yet. It's faster, more refined, has a handful of new customization options and boasts a long list of new features, including several suggestions from users who were involved in the SwiftKey 3 beta:

Smart Space – adding to SwiftKey's already cutting edge correction, Smart Space detects mistyped or omitted spaces across strings of sloppily typed words in real-time.
Two new themes – a new theme, 'Cobalt', to match SwiftKey's new look and feel, and an Ice Cream Sandwich-styled 'Holo' theme, as voted for by you.
An enhanced UI – a much larger space bar and smart punctuation key help improve accuracy and make it quick and easy to access common punctuation.
Additional languages – SwiftKey 3 now offers support for an additional seven languages, bringing the total up to 42. The new languages are Korean, Estonian, Farsi, Icelandic, Latvian, Lithuanian and Serbian.
A dedicated comma key, and the 123 key in the bottom-left corner.
A refined Smart Punctuation pop-up for better, more consistent behavior.
An improved Smart Space functionality for easier email addresses and URL entry.
Reduced lag on some devices for a more responsive experience.
A reintroduction of the long-press duration setting by popular request.
Further improved prediction algorithms for even more accurate next word suggestions.
Refined gestures for a smoother experience.

To try SwiftKey 3 for yourself, head on over to either Google Play or the Amazon Appstore (where the discount is not available yet) where you can buy it now for just $1.99.

Once you give it a shot, be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below.

Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx getting Android 4 starting today

Motorola has announced that Android 4.0 will be rolling out to the Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR Maxx handsets starting today. Android 4.0 brings a slew of upgrades to the RAZR line, including a revamped home screen and lock screen, home screen folders, face unlock, and camera enhancements. Best of all, possibly due to the merger with Google, Motorola's UI has been seriously lightened up, several Moto widgets have been removed, and the update looks much more like stock Android 4.0 than don'tcallmeBLUR.

The update should be coming to your device over the next few weeks. It's possible you may be able to force the upgrade today or tomorrow by manually checking for it by going to settings, about phone, then system updates, though this methodology has been hit or miss with other devices.

Regardless, the very long wait for Ice Cream Sandwich is nearly over, and owners of Motorola's best Android phones to date will be ushered into the latest and greatest Android OS just in time for the unveiling of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean next week.

DROID RAZR Ice Cream Sandwich Build 6.16.211 Leaks, Could be Official

razr ics update1 650x552 DROID RAZR Ice Cream Sandwich Build 6.16.211 Leaks, Could be Official

According to Motorola, the DROID RAZR

Video: Samsung Galaxy SIII Vs. iPhone 4S Drop Test

SGSIII Drop Test1 650x358 Video: Samsung Galaxy SIII Vs. iPhone 4S Drop Test

Attention future Galaxy SIII owners, do not attempt this at home. We have seen these "drop test" videos in the past and they're always sort of fun to watch. In this edition, we have the new Samsung Galaxy SIII taking on Apple's iPhone 4S. Keep in mind, the SGSIII features the popular Gorilla Glass 2, which doesn't seem to fair very well after a few of these drops. Don't be a fool, wrap your smartphone tool.

Qualcomm butter benchmark proves Snapdragon S4 is “coolest kid on the block”

It's no secret that the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 is the processor most sought-after by smartphone makers this year. Qualcomm has managed to cram some impressive performance numbers and LTE connectivity into the 28nm chip, making it one of the most efficient chips on the market.

One added benefit of the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 is the chip's amazing heat efficiency. In order to show the difference between the heat expelled by the S4 chip and that of its competitors, Qualcomm could have simply taken thermal images of various devices while performing CPU intensive tasks. Instead, Qualcomm took a few sticks of butter and placed them on top of a few phones to see which device melts butter the slowest.

We're not sure if Qualcomm is playing favorites in its butter benchmark test, but if you have a few spare phones running on different processors, you could

Sharp’s Feel UX Android Skin, This is What They Call “Simplifying”

2d0cSharp Feel U Sharp's Feel UX Android Skin, This is What They Call

Sharp, whose AQUOS smartphones are quite successful in Japan, have teamed up with frog to create a new Android skin named Feel UX. By making the user experience more focused on the user's content (pictures, agenda, notes), Feel UX is Sharp's approach at allowing owners to feel more in control of their devices:

By simplifying the interaction model and reducing clutter through a more curated experience, it will be immediately apparent to customers how to use the phones and make them more personal.

From the preview we see in the below video, Sharp is attempting to achieve an experience that is centered around multimedia, but want it to also be simplistic and easy on the eye. They have replaced icons with huge matte boxes and their stock icons that seem to take up half the display while leaving little room for much else.

On the other hand, the lockscreen does look like a keeper. It has impressive music controls and notification shortcuts, but I don't feel that having a

The ultimate Father’s Day Android deals roundup

Tradition may say that a tie may be a suitable present for your father on Father's Day, but you're better than that. T-Mobile, Verizon and even Amazon seem to think that the best present you can get your dad this weekend is a new smartphone. You could shop around to see what the best deals are, but we decided to do the leg work for you and have compiled the best deals we could find.

T-Mobile

If you're a T-Mobile customer, get ready for the sale of a lifetime. T-Mobile offering the best deals around by reducing the price of all its 4G smartphones to a nicely rounded zero! That's right, you can get the new HTC One S or even the T-Mobile SpringBoard for free (after a mail-in rebate).

Amazon

Amazon Wireless is always featuring amazing discounts on Android phones, but we thought

Contest: Beta test Atmo and win a Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

Those of you that have been around Android since the beginning will likely remember the Android Developer Challenges. They were app development contests sponsored by Google back in the early days when Android did not exactly have a bountiful supply of apps. Well one of the finalists in the second of those contests was Door 6 with their 3D space flight game Atmosphere: Trainer which they later refined into the tunnel racer Vacuum which is still available in Google Play and I will personally attest can be highly addictive.

Well the guys at Door 6 have continued to work in a similar vein since then and are now ready to take the wraps off their latest creation which they are calling simply "Atmo."

Sharp’s Feel UX Android skin takes Android customization to a whole new level

While Sharp has not had much of an impact on the Android world outside of Japan, that's not stopping them from teaming up with frog to deliver a "new Android smartphone experience that is easy to use, highly personalized, and visually stunning." Sharp has been using custom

Reminder: Pre-ordering the Galaxy S3 on Verizon Allows You to Keep Unlimited Data

vzw keep unlimited 650x451 Reminder: Pre ordering the Galaxy S3 on Verizon Allows You to Keep Unlimited Data

Here is one last Share Everything data plan note/reminder and we should have just about covered it all. And actually, we talked about this back when the Galaxy SIII first went up for pre-order, but we have seen some confusion on the subject in the comments and on Twitter and decided to talk about it one more time. I cannot say this any clearer – if you pre-order the Samsung Galaxy SIII before June 28, you can keep your unlimited data plan (assuming you already have an unlimited plan).

Ice Cream Sandwich Build 3.14.605.10 Leaks for the HTC Rezound

htc rezound logo Ice Cream Sandwich Build 3.14.605.10 Leaks for the HTC Rezound

Another Ice Cream Sandwich build has leaked for the HTC Rezound, this time as version 3.14.605.10. It appears to be a minimal update over the last one

Android Other: T-Mobile Galaxy Note Hits FCC, AT&T Wants Verizon’s Spectrum, and Galaxy SII ICS

Screen Shot 2012 06 12 at 12.34.27 PM 650x380 Android Other: T Mobile Galaxy Note Hits FCC, AT&T Wants Verizon's Spectrum, and Galaxy SII ICS

Android Other is a quick look at some of the other Android stories that hit the web today that we thought you may care about as an enthusiast. In order to stay up-to-date on all things green robot, this isn't a bad post to check out on the daily.

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Galaxy Note Headed for T-Mobile Passes through the FCC

The Samsung Galaxy Note, the 5.3″ phablet that passed the 7 million units sold mark a while back, is looking to ad to its surprisingly high totals. There were rumblings that the Note may be making its way to T-Mobile, but this FCC filing looks to make that pretty official. Now the question is, when can we see it? Rumors point to July 11 for this phone launching on the Magenta network and it may have Ice Cream Sandwich already on board if we're really lucky. With the Note making its way to another US carrier, do you still want it on Verizon?

Samsung Announces TecTiles, Brings Programmable NFC Tags to the Masses

Google’s balancing act: drawing the line between Google apps on iOS and Android

According to recent rumor reports from all around the web, Apple will be ditching Google Maps as their default mapping application, and providing their own Open Street Map powered solution. The question of "what does this mean" for Apple is certainly intriguing. (What kinds of new technology will be used? Will third-party developers be using Apple's maps? Will iOS and OSX powered devices be the only ones to see Apple's new maps?) But the question of "what does this mean" for Google and Android is almost more interesting. It could bring big changes to the way Google handles cross-platform applications.

Google has never been one to turn down an opportunity to work with Apple. Plenty of Google products have crossed platform lines in the past. However, now that both companies are creating dueling products, in more than one arena, you have to wonder. How will Google handle it?

Will maps be the app that pushes Google to toss iOS users aside, or will it be the final shove into a new era of full-featured Google apps on iOS devices?

Maps

maps Google's balancing act: drawing the line between Google apps on iOS and Android

If Apple drops Google maps in favor of their own mapping service, two questions come to mind: Will Google create their own third-party map application for iOS devices, and if they do, will they intentionally hold back features in order to drive users to Android?

Google would be foolish to waste this opportunity. Not only would they have more control over their maps app on iOS than they currently do, but they'd still make a boat-load of money on advertising. As far as holding back features goes, there's no way Google would not give iOS users a reason to switch to Android. That reason would most likely be navigation. If they held back much more than that, the app would be sub-par, and a waste of time on Google's part.

Consumer choice is a great thing, and thanks to the various laws that help bolster consumer choice and stop anti-competitive actions from big companies like Apple, Google should have no problem releasing a maps app for iOS. And I have a good feeling they will.

Drive

drive Google's balancing act: drawing the line between Google apps on iOS and Android

Does Apple have a product that competes with Google Drive? Yes and no. While Google drive can be seen as a Dropbox and iCloud competitor in some ways, it's really just Google Docs. Which means iWork and iCloud would have to be mashed together, and reworked to truly compete with Drive. So will Google totally embrace iOS with Drive?

The fact that a Drive app for iOS is coming soon has already been revealed. To answer the question of whether or not Google will hold back features in the iOS Drive app comes down to one thing: is there anything compelling enough in Drive to push iOS users to Android? In my mind, the answer to that question is no.

Unlike with maps, Drive does have a decent amount of competition. No one single solution may be as full-featured as Drive, but other similar apps do have their own special advantages over Drive. If Google doesn't release a full fledged Drive app for iOS users, most will just use something else.

I'd be shocked if when Google releases a Drive app for iOS, it's missing features.

Music

music Google's balancing act: drawing the line between Google apps on iOS and Android

Google Music is awesome. Thanks to Google Music, I've been able to upload my entire music collection, straight from iTunes, and listen to it anywhere I go. On my phone, someone else's computer, really anywhere with web access. Would Google ever be crazy enough to bring a full featured Google Music client to iOS?

To answer that question, we first have to take a look at what kind of features Google could hold back, or rather, wouldn't want to include.

When you press the Google Play button in Google Music, you're taken directly to the Google Play store, where you can buy more music. This would not be possible on iOS. For multiple reasons. I'm not incredibly well versed in iOS in-app purchase guidelines, but I believe Google wouldn't even be allowed to offer a link to visit the Google Music store online. Because Apple wouldn't get a cut of the sales. Or if they did offer a link to the Google Music store online, they'd be losing money to their biggest competitor.

Theoretically, if Google were to release a Google Music app on iOS, it would be a way to access your Google Music account's music. That's it. Yes, it would push more iOS users to ditch iTunes, and buy their music from Google on the web, and sure, Google could find some way to insert ads and make some cash there, but would it be enough?

If Google wants to make some serious cash with Google Music, it just may be. But remember, you can sync your iTunes music to your Google Music account. And you don't have to pay any subscription fees like with iTunes Match. How many people do you think would simply buy their music from iTunes, and just use Google Music as an online storage locker?

There are a lot of pros and cons when it comes to releasing a Google Music app on iOS, including the fact that its pretty damn great, and Google might want to keep that to themselves. I wouldn't expect to see a Google Music client on iOS anytime soon, but you never know.

Chrome

chrome Google's balancing act: drawing the line between Google apps on iOS and Android

Chrome has never really been any better on one platform or another. It's always been Google's vessel to the web as we know it. As far as Google products go, Chrome is the one they should be most proud of. It's amazing in the best ways possible, and the same rings true for the Android version that was released a short time ago. Will iOS users ever get to bask in the sweet glory of the best mobile web browser ever created?

Google has never had a more personal stake in Chrome than it does now. In the past year, Chrome OS has blossomed into a much more serious contender in the desktop/laptop war. The hardware on which Chrome OS runs has made a couple changes now, and the the OS itself has done nothing but consistently improve. And then there's Chrome for Android.

I know it may sound like I'm over exaggerating here, but even if you payed me cash money, every single day, to use the stock browser on my Galaxy Nexus instead of Chrome, I wouldn't do it. It really is that good. So why would Google ever want to share it with Apple and iOS?

Chrome has always been totally independent of Android. And it still remains that way. If Google were to say, "from JellyBean forward, Chrome will be the default web-browser on Android," things may be different. But I still don't know if I see that happening quite yet. With they way Chrome has worked in the past, I can't imagine Google holding back.

Google would love to steal Safari Mobile's market share right out from under Apple, and Chrome for iOS would be the perfect solution. Especially if it was just a full-featured as the Android version is. The big advantage of Chrome on Android over iOS? On Android you can set it as the default browser. Everything you do with the web will be done through Chrome if you want it that way.

On iOS, not so much. And by the 50th time a wishy-washy iOS user opens a link in twitter and it pops up in Safari, and not Chrome, they just might consider a fancy new Nexus as their next device.

Bring on Chrome for iOS, it's only a matter of time now.

Wrap up

Google may have a decent portfolio of apps available on both Android and iOS right now. But some of their best apps and services, like Maps, Music, Drive and Chrome, have yet to cross platform lines.

I've done more than my fair share of speculating above, so now it's your turn. How do you think Google will handle their apps and services outside of Android? Will they embrace iOS, and give it their best shot? Or will nothing change? And while we're at it, what about other platforms? I can't imagine Google staying up at night, mulling over whether or not to release a Drive app on Windows Phone, but maybe they are. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

Rubin: Android activations reach 900,000 per day

Taking to Twitter, Google's Andy Rubin announced that there are 900,000 Android devices activated every day. That's 328.5 million devices activated every year, nearly the total population of the United States. Clearly Android is continuing to grow at impressive rates, and we should expect to see that number creep ever closer to 1,000,000 daily activations by the end of the year (perhaps spurred, in part, by the Nexus Tablet).

With Android's continued success, Rubin reiterated via Twitter that he has "no plans to leave Google," in response to a Robert Scoble rumor going around that Rubin would leave Google for startup CloudCar. And why would he? With Android making up over 50% of the U.S. smartphone market, Rubin's Android is clearly the leading platform out there and continues to grow in market share largely at the expense of RIM and the feature phone market.

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II Android 4.0.3 update now available

The Android 4.0.3 update for the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II is now available. The update went live at 10PM last night, but don't expect the update to magically appear on your phone. Unlike most other Android manufacturers, Samsung will not be pushing out the update over the air. Instead, T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II owners will need to use Samsung's Kies software on a desktop computer to download and install the update.

The Android 4.0 update incorporates the majority of the new features Google introduced with Ice Cream Sandwich, but users will have to dig to find them since Samsung's TouchWiz UI will not look much different than the previous version. To learn more about all the changes included in the new software build, T-Mobile has put together a detailed "Top 10 things to know about TouchWiz Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS): Samsung Galaxy S II" page on its support site.

So what are you waiting for? Let us know how the update goes and how you like your Samsung Galaxy S II running on Ice Cream Sandwich.

android+beam 75x75 T Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II Android 4.0.3 update now available
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Verizon unveils Share Everything plans, available June 28th

Shared data plans will soon be a reality, if you happen to be a Verizon Wireless customer. Verizon has finally officially unveiled their shared data plans, set for a June 28th availability date. Verizon's new Share Everything plans will give each plan an unlimited amount of data and texts, with fees increasing with the amount of data you need to get through the month. When pricing a data plan, customers will be presented with the following two-step process:

Step 1: Select 1 smartphone and up to 9 other devices

Smartphone: $40 per month
Basic/Feature phone: $30 per month
Jetpacks/Notebooks/Netbooks/USB hotspots: $20 per month
Tablets: $10 per month

Step 2: Select the amount of data you need

1GB: $50 per month
2GB: $60 per month
4GB: $70 per month
6GB: $80 per month
8GB: $90 per month
10GB: $100 per month

Once you've made selections, simply add your fees together to come up with your monthly bill. For example, a two smartphone plus one tablet plan at 4GB of monthly data would be $160 per month ($40 for each smartphone, $10 for the tablet, and $70 for 4GB of shared data). All smartphones and tablets on the plan will feature the hotspot functionality at no additional charge, so long as you stay below your allotted data threshold.

The resulting prices are generally less than they would be under the current plan structure, generally falling around $10-20 per month cheaper, though the savings are potentially much greater on the high end. A plan with 5 smartphones would be about $340 per month in the old world, and comes in at around $300 for 10GB of data, or a bit less if you need less data.

I for one am looking forward to shared data plans, as they have the potential to save customers lots of money on their monthly bills. With AT&T and other carriers rumored to be working on plans of their own, shared data is likely here to stay.

Sony gives fans control over the next Xperia announcement

It might not have the build up of a major press announcement like the Galaxy S III, but Sony is giving something new a go over on their Facebook page by letting fans "fast forward" to the announcement of the next Xperia smartphone.

This started yesterday morning and the announcement was originally scheduled for June 22nd, but every time a user clicks the big orange button the clock jumps ahead (just one turn per day). They've had a pretty solid response so far as a little over 24,000 people have clicked the button and thus brought the announcement up to the afternoon of June 13th as it stands right now.

Now I'm guessing that Sony isn't probably unveiling anything revolutionary here, but they do still owe us one Xperia Ion for AT&T by the end of June. Despite the fans on their Facebook page doing some minor rioting in favor of an Xperia Play 2 I'm pretty sure they would have brought that out at E3 last week if it were that far along.

In case I'm right about this being the Ion, I'll give a quick refresher, as I was pretty impressed with it at CES. The highlights were the 4.65-inch 1280×720 Reality Display which was one of the best looking displays I've seen in terms of contrast and color reproduction. The other big feature was the 12 MP Exmor-R camera which was able to fire off a shot from standby in under 2 seconds. On the downside it was slated to launch with Gingerbread, though we're hoping Sony's wised up and puts Android 4 on this bad boy.

Hit the source link below to do your part to speed up the countdown, if you have a Facebook account that is, and there's also at least one contest for a free Xperia phone that you can get in on while you are at it.

The Ion is just my theory, any other Xperia phones that you've been waiting for?

Saturday, June 30, 2012