AT&T confirms Gingerbread coming to entire 2011 Android lineup (and Samsung Captivate)

The HTC Status was the only device with Gingerbread on AT&T’s lineup for a small slice of time, but that’s quickly coming to an end. The carrier has confirmed that Android 2.3 will be pushed to its entire 2011 postpaid lineup, beginning with an OTA rollout of the Motorola Atrix 4G today (though and the HTC Inspire 4G “in the coming weeks.” In addition to the phones released this year, Samsung Captivate users will be able to enjoy the upgrade as well. There’s no hard details on the timing for everyone else, but at least anyone with a 2011 model can breath a sigh of relief. Full press release can be found after the break.

Continue reading AT&T confirms Gingerbread coming to entire 2011 Android lineup (and Samsung Captivate)

AT&T confirms Gingerbread coming to entire 2011 Android lineup (and Samsung Captivate) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Andy Pad Pro gets detailed while Andy Pad makes film debut (video)

Andy Pad
Low-cost Android, actually looking decent? Seems like it. We’ve caught wind of a few hitting the scene at this point, and there’s little question that the Andy Pad folks appear to have something better in mind. The company’s been slowly releasing info on Twitter about its 7-inch Andy Pad and Pro variant, and has also recently updated its website; the AP Pro’s finally been priced for £179 (about $290) and there’s now a full shot of the slates along with specs. While we knew the Pro would have a capacitive touchscreen and front / rear cams, those “additional features” have panned out to be an increased 1024 x 600 screen resolution and Bluetooth connectivity (it seems the 16GB model was this version all along). Still aching to see one in action? AP’s also posted a YouTube clip of the base model zipping along and effortlessly hurling Angry Birds through its Gingerbread scented air. It’ll still be about month until the duo hit the streets, but for now, you’ll find the video past the break.

Continue reading Andy Pad Pro gets detailed while Andy Pad makes film debut (video)

Andy Pad Pro gets detailed while Andy Pad makes film debut (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Cool Smart Phone  |  sourceAndy Pad, AndyPadUk (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

HTC Salsa ditches its Facebook button for Weibo in China

When is a “Facebook phone” not a Facebook phone? When it’s in China. While this handset may look like an HTC Salsa at first glace, if you look a little closer you’ll notice that the familiar little blue button has been replaced with one for Sina’s Weibo social networking service. Lest you think this is just another KIRF, however, you can rest assured this is indeed the real deal, and a fairly big deal for HTC, considering that Weibo has around 150 million total users, and 50 million active monthly users. As for the phone itself, it’s remained mostly unchanged otherwise, with it packing an 800MHz processor and a 3.4-inch 480 x 320 display, along with Android 2.3.3 with Sense 2.1 on top. Head on past the break for a video, and hit the source link below for a closer look.

Continue reading HTC Salsa ditches its Facebook button for Weibo in China

HTC Salsa ditches its Facebook button for Weibo in China originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink M.I.C. Gadget, Engadget Chinese  |  sourceSina  | Email this | Comments

Judge tells Oracle to rethink $2.6 billion claim against Google

Oracle Vs. Google

The war between Google and Oracle is far from over, but the big G keeps racking up tiny victories in what are admittedly modest battles. Now the Redwood Shores-based company has been told to go back to the drawing board with its damages report. Originally Oracle sought $2.6 billion, but its theories were largely dismissed and Judge William Alsup suggested an alternative starting point of roughly $100 million. The company still has an opportunity to present a new report, one that will likely seek much more than the proposed $100 million, but things are looking increasingly tough for the claimant. It wasn’t all good news for Goog, though. While the judge told Oracle to narrow its focus from Android as a whole to just specific infringing features, he did agree that related advertising revenue should be included in the theoretical royalty base. He also offered harsh criticism for what he viewed as its “brazen” disregard for intellectual property rights. The trial is still scheduled for October, so we should have a better idea of how this whole thing will play out by Halloween.

Judge tells Oracle to rethink $2.6 billion claim against Google originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 03:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change the Kyocera Echo?

We get the impression that Kyocera’s design team had been hacking away at the Echo for years — largely due to the blocky corners that remained, despite the current market’s affinity for curvation — and in a way, we’re actually relieved that Sprint took a chance with it. We’ve seen what’s to come when looking at dual-screen handsets, and if executed properly, the future seems bright. The Echo itself surprised us with its flexibility, and while it’s obviously a niche device, we’re certain a few of you have ponied up for one. So, here’s your chance to tell us all what you’d do differently the next time around. Would you change the form factor in any way? How’s about that slider / locking mechanism? Was Android 2.2 the right choice? Do you wish it were available on a different carrier? Go on and get creative in comments below!

How would you change the Kyocera Echo? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung SPH-M930 to give Boost Mobile a keyboard-packing Charge?

Like Android, QWERTY keyboards, and paying as you go? Boy, have we got the handset for you. This is the Samsung SPH-M930, a Droid Charge-looking slider reportedly destined for the pre-paid world of Boost Mobile. The Gingerbread handset is said to be rocking a 1GHz Qualcomm chip and is a mere FCC approval away from your thumbs.

Samsung SPH-M930 to give Boost Mobile a keyboard-packing Charge? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 03:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Unwired View  |  sourcePocket Now  | Email this | Comments

MSI tablet moseys on through the FCC, exposes its inner secrets

MSI Tablet at the FCC

What we have here, is a decidedly low-end Android tablet from the folks at MSI (possibly a member of the Enjoy family) flying through the FCC as fast as its single-core 1GHz Cortex A8 CPU and 512MB of RAM will carry it. Inside you’ll find Bluetooth and WiFi antennas, as well as enough room for a full-sized SD card, though oddly the user manual says this model (listed as MS-N0Y1) only supports sizes up to 8GB. Up front you’ll find a camera for video chatting, the requisite buttons for navigating the customized version of Gingerbread, and a 10-inch screen sporting a rather uninspiring 800×480 resolution. There’s a second camera around back, as well as the all important FCC tag. Check out the gallery below and hit up the source for the aforementioned user manual and a special treat — schematics for those Android pushing internals.

MSI tablet moseys on through the FCC, exposes its inner secrets originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jul 2011 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atrix gets Gingerbread update, sideloading support, new outlook on life

ATrix

Its evil cousin the Bionic may be lurking just around the bend, with its too-long sideburns and its crazy eyes, but that doesn’t mean the Atrix 4G is ready to hang up its hat just yet. AT&T’s wunderphone with the woven back is just now receiving a 2.3.4 update, bringing it all the sensuous flavors of Gingerbread and finally, finally, the ability to sideload apps. First, though, you’ll need to download the 161MB update, which is waiting for you at the other end of the source link below. No, really, it is — but it’s getting impatient. Go on, go say hello.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Atrix gets Gingerbread update, sideloading support, new outlook on life originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 21:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TIMN  |  sourceMotorola  | Email this | Comments

Panasonic Raboo UT-PB1 e-reader gets official, acts more like a tablet

Panasonic already took its UT-PB1 e-reader out for a step-and-repeat at the e-Book Expo Tokyo this year, but kept some important details under wraps. Now the tablet e-reader is ready for its official coming out party. The 7-inch, color touchscreen Raboo UT-PB1 is set to launch in Japan on August 10th, retailing at about ¥34,800 (that’s $444) and packing 600 plus “pre-viewable books.” There’s an Android OS running on an unspecified dual-core CPU under that book-mimicking surface with the company’s own UI slathered all over it — so there’ll be no tablet-esque shenanigans here, yet. The 400 gram (14 ounce) handheld also comes furnished with 8GB of storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, microSDHC, support for various video and audio files, and packs basic web and email apps. Sound like a dedicated reading device to you? Unfortunately, it only plays nice with the XMDF e-book format, so if you’re interested in picking one up, you’re gonna be tied to the Rakuten E-Book store. Check out the video below for a glimpse of the non-tab in action and maybe even a little dental training doll cameo.

Continue reading Panasonic Raboo UT-PB1 e-reader gets official, acts more like a tablet

Panasonic Raboo UT-PB1 e-reader gets official, acts more like a tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourcePanasonic (Translated)  | Email this | Comments

Toshiba Thrive review

This isn’t the first time Toshiba has showed up fashionably late to a party. Back in 2009, long after most every other consumer electronics maker big and small had jumped on the netbook bandwagon, the company belatedly released its first mini, the NB205. And it was fantastic. So we were optimistic when the outfit finally got around to releasing the Thrive, its first Android tablet for the US market. Surely, we thought, it’s learned a thing or two from everybody else’s mistakes.

And in that regard, at least, this 10-inch tablet doesn’t disappoint. It has full-sized USB and HDMI ports, an SD card slot, and a removable battery — all features you’d sooner find on a laptop. It comes with a raft of practical apps already installed, so that you don’t have to go hunting for them in Android Market. It’s one of the first out of the gate with Android 3.1, an undeniably improved version of Honeycomb. Oh, and it starts at $429, undercutting many of its competitors. Right there, in less than a paragraph, we’ve laid out why you might want this over any of the other umpteen tabs crowding the market. But should you get one? Well, folks, we’ll need more than a paragraph to tackle that. Join us after the break, won’t you?

Continue reading Toshiba Thrive review

Toshiba Thrive review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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