LG Thrill 4G review

Just a few weeks after the LG Optimus 3D got placed in the hot seat at our European offices, we’re ready to give its American counterpart its fair share of warmth. Better known in the states as the Thrill 4G, this AT&T device is the latest smartphone to follow in the footsteps of the HTC EVO 3D by tossing an extra dimension into the mix. As it so happens, two rear cameras and some fancy special effects are just enough to change a person’s judgement of the device in a split-second.

We get it. Few people want to spend their hard-earned cash on a gimmick. But like any other phone with a defining feature, there’s more to this glasses-free 3D handset than meets the eye (pun intended). And after peering under the hood and seeing what the Thrill is capable of, there’s a possibility this phone can hold its own against the competition in the same price range ($100 on AT&T). How does it differ from its European counterpart? Does the phone’s 3D match up against Sprint’s contribution? And how does this handset perform apart from that extra D? Join us as we dig through all three dimensions to get to the root of the Thrill 4G.

Continue reading LG Thrill 4G review

LG Thrill 4G review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synrgic preps its T100 handset for the beast phone race

Synrgic may not be a brand name that resonates with mobile-obsessed statesiders, but that’s no reason to shrug off the nascent electronics maker’s efforts. Known primarily for its tablet PCs in China, the company is purportedly gearing up for a launch of its first ever smartphone — the T100. According to a leaked shot over on Chinitech, the handset’ll pack a spec list that runs neck and neck with the heavy hitting phones we’ve seen flood the global marketplace. Sporting a 4.3-inch 960 x 540 display, the device runs an undisclosed version of Gingerbread on a dual-core 1.2GHz Tegra 2 processor, packs 1GB RAM, up to 32GB of internal storage (due to an omitted microSD card slot), and 1.3 megapixel front-facing / 5 megapixel rear camera set-up capable of 720p video capture. There’s also an HDMI and USB port, ample 1500mAh battery, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G GSM / WCDMA frequencies on board. If the gossip is to be believed, this phone’ll touch down on retailers’ shelves sometime in October or November — perhaps in time for an Ice Cream Sandwich.

Synrgic preps its T100 handset for the beast phone race originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceChinitech  | Email this | Comments

Droid Bionic arrives at Verizon tomorrow, we go hands-on today (video)

It’s been a very, very long time since Verizon and Motorola together announced the Droid Bionic — the better part of a year, in fact. Since then the phone’s gone into hiding, perhaps hitting the gym and training for this moment, it’s final and formal unveiling. The frequently-spied device finally ships tomorrow, and we have the full details plus early impressions right here, after the break.

Continue reading Droid Bionic arrives at Verizon tomorrow, we go hands-on today (video)

Droid Bionic arrives at Verizon tomorrow, we go hands-on today (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon launching Droid Bionic September 8th, giving some away through an AR scavenger hunt (update: it’s already arriving in stores)

It’s been a long and tortuous road for the Droid Bionic. From our first taste of its dual-core potential at CES, to the stream of leaked specs, shots and release dates of the phone in the months since. Well, the wait officially ends on September 8th, as Verizon just confirmed the release date with a new version of the robotic battle teaser ad we saw a couple weeks ago. Big Red has also launched a Droid Does website with info on VZW’s Droids and its new Arena augmented reality scavenger hunt — where deft digital orienteers can win a Bionic, HDTV, laptop, tablet, or quadrocopter. For more info, hit the second source link below and head on past the break to see the vid for yourself. Feel free to enjoy the blade work of a raven-haired warrior slicing up cyborgs while you’re at it.

Update: Looks like Verizon’s ramping up for the Bionic era, as the handsets have already begun to arrive in stores. Pic’s after the break.

Continue reading Verizon launching Droid Bionic September 8th, giving some away through an AR scavenger hunt (update: it’s already arriving in stores)

Verizon launching Droid Bionic September 8th, giving some away through an AR scavenger hunt (update: it’s already arriving in stores) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PC Mag  |  sourceVerizon (YouTube), Verizon, Droid Life  | Email this | Comments

HTC working on Sensation special edition with Beats and 1.5GHz dual-core CPU?

Looking for a way to listen to some sensational beats? Soon, we hope to do so using a Sensation with Beats. According to a document leaked to CNET, HTC is planning a revised Special Edition of its popular Sensation that throws in Beats technology and adds a few other improvements at the same time. On the drawing board is a ramped-up 1.5GHz dual-core CPU (up from 1.2GHz), a massive 1,730mAh battery and four times the internal storage at 4GB. If we can trust the above doc, it appears the phone will be offered with GSM and TD-SCDMA — pegging China as a key market — and has a starting price of $850. We can only hope the high cost is an extreme case and won’t be a precedent set for all future HTC / Beats devices.

Continue reading HTC working on Sensation special edition with Beats and 1.5GHz dual-core CPU?

HTC working on Sensation special edition with Beats and 1.5GHz dual-core CPU? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S II LTE heads to Rogers for 4G fall debut

Our neighbors to the north just got a one-two punch of wireless awesome delivered courtesy of Rogers. The operator announced today that its variant of Samsung’s heavily lusted after Galaxy S II will be launching with baked-in LTE functionality on its nascent 4G network. Most of the handset’s specs have remained the same, aside from a newly beefed-up 1.5GHz dual-core processor, NFC functionality and Hercules-sized 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display. If you’re proud to call yourself Canadian and “download speeds of up to 100Mbps” get your blood pumping, then expect to snag Sammy’s beast phone when it goes on sale before Autumn’s end.

Update: Interestingly, the Rogers site lists the Galaxy S II LTE as featuring a 1.2GHz CPU instead of the 1.5GHz slice of silicon that was announced only days ago. It may be a typo, or the Canadian carrier may have its version underclocked for a longer battery life. We’ve reached out for clarification and will update when we hear back.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Samsung Galaxy S II LTE heads to Rogers for 4G fall debut originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMobileSyrup (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

HTC Sense 3.5 beta screenshots leak, bring tears of joy to weather widget lovers

Now that you’ve seen high-quality images of the HTC Bliss with the screen turned off, are you curious to see what it looks like when it’s on? The same folks at XDA.cn who got hands-on time with the Bliss have now come forth with possible screenshots showing the phone is indeed running on a beta version of Sense UI 3.5. What’s new here? Even though the lock screen uses the same ring-style unlocking feature as its predecessor, it appears that the new UI will feature two dedicated buttons at the bottom of the home panel — for the app tray on the left and phone on the right — and refreshed widgets (including a larger weather panel), among other minor changes. Word also has it that HTC is removing hardware requirements that restricted version 3.0 to the company’s highest-end devices, which gives hope to millions of Sense users still on an older, more streamlined UI. More screenshots can be found at the source link.

HTC Sense 3.5 beta screenshots leak, bring tears of joy to weather widget lovers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink AndroidLife  |  sourceXDA.cn (translated)  | Email this | Comments

White HTC EVO 3D gets exclusive RadioShack bow on September 9th

If Wall-E’s lady friend, Eve, and Spielberg’s E.T. were to come together in engineering matrimony, we’re pretty sure this white EVO 3D would be the resulting offspring. This “rare and beautiful” unicorn from HTC’s beastly, dual-core Android herd hails from the Hesse-led network, and will be available as a RadioShack exclusive on September 9th. The electronics retailer dipped more than just its toes into our 21st century ways (or more likely hired a new intern), getting the message out via its Twitter account, and snapping an Instagram shot of the bleached handset. Pricing for the phone has yet to be announced, but we’d be surprised if this gets a premium over its $199 on-contract twin.

White HTC EVO 3D gets exclusive RadioShack bow on September 9th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Ruby to be dubbed Amaze 4G, come with 1.5GHz CPU and 4.3-inch display?

The white shell of the HTC Ruby exudes a “ghostly” quality, which seems to explain its ability to appear and disappear at will. This time the smartphone’s popped up in reports highlighting a couple important revelations: according to BGR, the Ruby’s slated to become the carrier’s flagship and will be looked upon as the Sensation 4G’s big brother. We’re not so sure about it being a literal statement, since the Ruby is speculated to have the same 4.3-inch display as its sibling, but it’ll definitely be more power-packed with a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and HSPA+ radio with connection speeds reaching up to 42Mbps. But that’s not all, folks: PocketNow, contributing some gossip of its own, is reporting that the phone will be called the Amaze 4G by T-Mobile, and will also have an 8 megapixel camera with dedicated still and video capture buttons. Now that leaks and reports are starting to pour in this quickly, it may not be too long before the Ruby Amaze 4G completely outrumors the Droid Bionic — which is not an easy task by any means.

HTC Ruby to be dubbed Amaze 4G, come with 1.5GHz CPU and 4.3-inch display? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceBGR, PocketNow  | Email this | Comments

HTC Vigor with 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and Beats sighted in Dutch online store

Not much is known about the HTC Vigor, but if the above image is accurate, we have more than a wagonload to look forward to. A supposed render and spec list of the new superphone showed up on The Phone House, a Dutch online retailer, and was quietly taken off the site at a later time. According to the site, the Vigor will have a 4.3-inch HD display with 1280 x 720 resolution; it’ll also offer a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, Android 2.3.4, and integrated Beats Technology — which would make the Vigor the first labor of HTC’s latest purchasing decision. There’s no word on if the device will have LTE inside, though Verizon docs indicated previously that it’s geared up to be the Thunderbolt’s replacement sometime this fall. This time, let’s get that battery life figured out, okay?

HTC Vigor with 1.5GHz dual-core CPU and Beats sighted in Dutch online store originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceHTCInside.de (translated)  | Email this | Comments