T-Mobile USA gives black HTC One S to hard-working staff, leaves other Americans turning green

TMobile USA gives black HTC One S to hardworking staff, leaves other Americans turning green

International HTC One S buyers might look at the black version like it’s humdrum, but if you’re an American who’s had no realistic choice but to get the gray T-Mobile edition, black is a rare and coveted thing. T-Mobile knows this all too well, and it’s using the micro arc oxidized hue as an incentive for loyal employees: work diligently enough, and a black One S with native T-Mobile HSPA+ is yours. There’s no word from the TmoNews tipster as to whether or not the color will ever reach the buying public, which could make it a rare collector’s item for Android lovers — not to mention a mild form of torture for HTC enthusiasts. The optimistic among us are hoping that it’s a sign of phones to come and that both black as well as gray can live in harmony on T-Mobile shelves.

Filed under:

T-Mobile USA gives black HTC One S to hard-working staff, leaves other Americans turning green originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 07:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTmoNews  | Email this | Comments

Sky Go for Android adds support for Ice Cream Sandwich, Samsung’s Galaxy S III, Nexus and Note

Sky Go for Android adds support for Ice Cream Sandwich, Samsung's Galaxy S III, Nexus and Note phones

When v2.0 of the Sky Go for Android app arrived earlier this month it promised another update would follow soon with support for Android 4.0 and more phones, and now it has arrived. We’re not seeing it in Google Play yet, but the press release (included after the break) indicates the app is ready to run on the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy Note from Samsung, and is also finally Ice Cream Sandwich compatible on those devices and the HTC Sensation / Sensation XE. That brings the total supported device count for the video on-demand player to a round 11, which is less than the “all” we’re looking for but still more than the zero supported prior to February.

Continue reading Sky Go for Android adds support for Ice Cream Sandwich, Samsung’s Galaxy S III, Nexus and Note

Filed under: ,

Sky Go for Android adds support for Ice Cream Sandwich, Samsung’s Galaxy S III, Nexus and Note originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 04:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Play  | Email this | Comments

Xperia GX goes through federal inspection, is still the Sony phone we want

Xperia GX goes through federal inspection, is still the Sony phone we want

Sony’s forthcoming 4.6-inch Android ICS slab has appeared at the FCC, and has revealed a few more details on what appears to be the company’s next flagship smartphone. The highlight of the federal-sanctioned autopsy of the Xperia GX reveals an interesting point; a pentaband 3G radios capable of HSPA speeds, something that’s still a rarity among global smartphones. The filing otherwise offers up a not-so-thrilling glimpse at the hardware labeling and, well, not much else. See for yourself at the link below.

Filed under:

Xperia GX goes through federal inspection, is still the Sony phone we want originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments

Archos 97 Carbon breaks cover at the FCC

Archos 97 Carbon breaks cover at the FCC

Archos’ recently outed 97 Carbon is the poor man’s Android slate… intentionally. Part of the French outfit’s low-cost Elements line, the 9.7-inch ICS tablet saw an official unveiling earlier this month and is now making an obligatory step-and-repeat at the FCC. We’ve already been given the full rundown on the tab’s innards — single-core 1GHz CPU, ports for HDMI-out, micro-USB, USB, dual camera setup and vacant microSD slot to complement the 16GB of storage onboard — so there’s not much new info to glean from the filings, aside from some candid lab shots. Regardless, feel free to hit up the source below to tour it all, or just navigate your way to an online retailer if you’d rather own this one IRL.

Filed under:

Archos 97 Carbon breaks cover at the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceFCC  | Email this | Comments

ZTE Grand X coming to UK for £190 pay-as-you-go: 4.3-inch qHD, microSD, stock Android 4.0

ZTE Grand X coming to UK for 190 payasyougo 43inch qHD, microSD, stock Android 40

If this is the “advanced gaming smartphone” that ZTE teased a few days ago, then we can’t help but feel a little miffed. It’d be fairer to describe the Grand X as the most advanced phone in ZTE’s growing budget line-up, and if you look at it from that perspective then it’s rather more impressive. For £190 PAYG with Virgin Mobile in the UK, you’re getting a 4.3-inch qHD LCD touchscreen, dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 processor (no Nexus 7 guts here unfortunately), microSD expandable storage (plus 4GB built-in and 512MB RAM), 5-megapixel rear camera and VGA front-facer, sub-10mm thickness and — ta-da! — stock Ice Cream Sandwich, albeit accompanied by legacy Gingerbread navigation buttons. We’d have liked to see the proper, up-to-date Android 4.0 button layout, but in any case the absence of ZTE’s Kanzi skin or indeed any other customization is a welcome change, because Google juice tastes fine served neat.

Now, we already did an early hands-on with this phone in June (not to mention its previous incarnation, the Mimosa X) and noted its fluid operation, solid build quality and capable display, and all of those things remain true in the retail-ready handset we’ve seen in the UK. The budget scene has certainly come a long way since last year, but do we expect the Grand X to have an easy ride on the market? Probably not — at least not when a phone like the Orange San Diego are offering a more modern processor, more RAM and better pixel density for just £10 more. That said, if a pure and uncluttered version of the OS is a priority, and if you can get this phone on a great deal when it arrives at Phones4U and Virgin Media stores at the beginning of August, then the Grand X is certainly worth a look.

Continue reading ZTE Grand X coming to UK for £190 pay-as-you-go: 4.3-inch qHD, microSD, stock Android 4.0

Filed under:

ZTE Grand X coming to UK for £190 pay-as-you-go: 4.3-inch qHD, microSD, stock Android 4.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Sony unveils 2012 Walkman range: Android 4.0 F series and refreshed entry-level E series (eyes-on)

Sony unveils refreshed Walkman range Android 40 F series and entrylevel E series eyeson

The Walkman F800 is Sony’s latest PMP; a 3.5-inch Android media player that replaces the company’s middling Z series. Perhaps the most intriguing point is that the new media player will arrive with Android 4.0 from the start, alongside the usual raft of WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity options. Storage choices range from 8GB, through to 16GB and 32GB, with 4.5 hours of video playback apparently possible on the handhelds. It’s the new flagship media player for Sony, and will launch in Europe priced at around £210 ($279).

The noise-cancelling E series (and an even-more-bare-bones version) has also been refreshed. The hardware hasn’t changed that much, aside from a larger 2-inch LCD screen, but there’s a whole raft of new patterns and colors. The petit slabs will arrive alongside a new dock that will run off the PMP’s own battery, augmenting the existing built-in speaker. If you liked the E series, but need something a little more wireless, then the just-announced Bluetooth-toting Walkman S770BT may hit the spot. Aside from that addition, the device otherwise lists the same specifications as the E series. Sony tells us that all three Walkman families will be available in Europe starting today — and we managed to handle both the new noise-cancelling E474 (£80, or around $80) and the F800 last week. Unfortunately, we were only able feel around the device, as unfortunately neither were powered up. The F series feels a lot like a solidly-built smart phone, with a matte black finish — the device arrives in just the single color option. Meanwhile, the E series attacks the rainbow, with a range of patterns. These feel predictably lighter, and should slip into pockets very easily. Take a closer look at the PMP pair in the galleries below.

Continue reading Sony unveils 2012 Walkman range: Android 4.0 F series and refreshed entry-level E series (eyes-on)

Filed under:

Sony unveils 2012 Walkman range: Android 4.0 F series and refreshed entry-level E series (eyes-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 07:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Acer Liquid Gallant Duo up for pre-order on Expansys, SIM-swappers silently applaud

Acer Liquid Gallant Duo up for preorder on Expansys, SIMswappers silently applaud

Acer’s line of Liquid handsets aren’t really chart toppers on any Android fan’s most wanted list, nor should they be. But for the budget-conscious globetrotter, there’s a strong case to be made for its awkwardly named Gallant Duo’s serviceable specs, dual SIM support and affordable £149 ($230) off contract price tag. The 4.3-incher, available now for pre-order on Expansys, packs a qHD display, single-core 1GHz MTK 6575 processor, 4GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD), a 5-megapixel rear camera and 1,500mAh battery into an unassuming chassis. Sure, this slightly above average handset won’t garner the envy of the quad-core crowd, but it’ll at least let you sit confidently at the ICS table. Check out the source below to reserve your claim for this under the radar offering.

Filed under: ,

Acer Liquid Gallant Duo up for pre-order on Expansys, SIM-swappers silently applaud originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 20:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Modaco  |  sourceExpansys  | Email this | Comments

Motorola Atrix HD review

Motorola Atrix HD review

When it comes to storied products, the Motorola Atrix has already mushroomed into one prolific line of devices, even in its short, 18-month life. It began as the Atrix 4G, entering the market with a splashy press conference at CES 2011, earning our respect as a game-changer, with its fingerprint sensor and innovative Webtop system. Less than a year later we were treated to the sequel, which offered some incremental improvements in specs and design, but failed to dazzle techies the way the original did.

Enter the third installment of the Atrix saga: the Atrix HD. True to its name, Motorola’s latest device is the company’s first US-bound smartphone to take advantage of a 720p display. It’s also the outfit’s first handset to ship with Ice Cream Sandwich already installed, and it sweetens the pot with other goodies such as LTE and an 8-megapixel rear camera. The spec sheet looks promising, and at $99 with a two-year agreement, so does the price. So is it worth your hard-earned Benjamin and two more years with AT&T? Let’s find out.

Continue reading Motorola Atrix HD review

Filed under: ,

Motorola Atrix HD review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Refresh Roundup: week of July 9th, 2012

Refresh Roundup week of July 9th, 2012

Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it’s easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don’t escape without notice, we’ve gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!

Continue reading Refresh Roundup: week of July 9th, 2012

Filed under: , ,

Refresh Roundup: week of July 9th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Motorola Atrix HD now on sale at AT&T: $100 on contract for LTE, 720p and ICS

Motorola Atrix HD now on sale at AT&T $100 on contract for LTE, 720p and ICS

Well, lookie here. It didn’t take long for Motorola’s latest Atrix variant to go from unveiled to launched, as the Atrix HD is now on sale at AT&T for a wallet-pleasing $99.99 on contract. Sign the dotted line for two years, and you’ll be getting a 4.5-inch Android superphone, complete with Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0), a true 720p display, Kevlar-infused backing, a “splash resistant” casing and an LTE radio. Those who indulge quickly are set to grab a gratis Vehicle Dock for “a limited time,” and you’ll also enjoy the first Moto handset to bring the outfit’s Circle Widget to the homescreen — which is engineered to take owners directly to their AT&T account info, displaying data usage, battery status and more. The phone’s listed right now in AT&T’s smartphone section in Titanium and Modern White, but the link to buy it seems deactivated for the moment. Still, it’s all square to go on sale today, so keep a close eye on the source link if you’re dead-set on an upgrade.

Psst… you can learn more about the Atrix lineage through our original Atrix 4G and Atrix 2 reviews.

Filed under:

Motorola Atrix HD now on sale at AT&T: $100 on contract for LTE, 720p and ICS originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Jul 2012 11:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceAT&T  | Email this | Comments