Hasta La Gadget!

It was just last week when we heard on how Verizon will finally deliver the long awaited Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update to the Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX smartphones, and so we await with bated breath of whispers that there will be another handset from Motorola’s stables that will be on the receiving end of some Jelly Bean goodness, and this will be an ancient smartphone in comparison – the Motorola Droid 4.

Launched by Verizon early last year with Android 2.3 Gingerbread on board alongside an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update later on, it seems that a handful of Droid 4 users did receive an invitation to test an “early preview of a new software release”, which could very well be the Jelly Bean update. Motorola did confirm in the past that their venerable Droid 4 would pick up Jelly Bean without being specific on the release date, so this could very well be it. There is life yet in the legs of the Droid 4, for sure!

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Drift Mania Championship 2 Hits Windows Phone Marketplace, 3D Nokia Lumia 920 Hologram Spotted In Shopping Center,

There are rumbles going on and around in the Internet that does point towards the possibility of Motorola’s Droid 4 smartphone is about to be immersed in a new software update soak test. While there is no confirmation that this particular soak test is pointing in the general direction of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, although it would be a bigger surprise if it was not confirmed to be so in due time. After all, Motorola did promise the masses that sometime in the third quarter of this year, the Motorola Droid 4 should be expecting the Ice Cream Sandwich update sometime then. As we are already somewhere in the middle of the third quarter, it would not be too far off to imagine that a soak test is in order before the rollout. What do you think – will it be Ice Cream Sandwich running smoothly on your Droid 4 not too long down the road? If so, good times are definitely right up ahead.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Motorola Droid 4 Ice Cream Sandwich build leaked, Motorola RAZR Maxx with Android 4.0/ICS Update,

Despite the sweltering heat waves, our spirits are high at Engadget, and for good reason: it’s time for our summer edition of the smartphone buyer’s guide. Here, you’ll find our top recommendations for the best smartphones across several US carriers, along with the best QWERTY and budget alternatives. In many ways, it’s now easier than ever to find a world-class smartphone, but unless you’ve developed a strong brand preference, choosing one is likely more difficult than ever before. It’s no secret that the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S III have firmly cemented themselves as the premier smartphones of the day, but if you’re torn between the two, we’ll reveal our preference in this latest installment.

Summertime also brought a bit of a shock, as Microsoft revealed that Windows Phone 8 apps won’t be compatible with the current generation of Windows Phone hardware. For this reason, we’ve excluded all Windows Phone handsets from consideration in the latest buyer’s guide. While the future of Microsoft’s mobile platform looks incredibly bright, a purchase now would guarantee obsolescence in the short-term. Instead, all prospective Windows Phone purchasers must wait for the next generation of handsets to become available — you’ll regret it otherwise.

Naturally, there is no shortage of rumors surrounding the next Apple iPhone, and given the handset’s current lack of LTE connectivity, the iPhone 4S is certainly showing its age. While cautious purchasers may choose to bide their time, the iPhone remains top-notch in many other respects, and its arrival at a number of prepaid carriers brought a breath of fresh air to an otherwise stagnant environment.

If you’re curious to see how it all unfolded — and we know you are — join us after the break, where we round up the very best smartphones of the season.

Continue reading Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: summer 2012 edition

Filed under: Cellphones

Engadget’s smartphone buyer’s guide: summer 2012 edition originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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