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Thomson's 5.3-inch X-view 2 brings its dual-SIM capabilities, Android 4.0 to la France
Last we heard, Thomsom had its PoMMeS IPTV tablet land at the rigorous FCC offices -- oh, and how could we forget that perky V888 slider from a few years back. Fast forward to today, and the company's clearly adapted to the "new" times, now introducing its 5.3-inch, dual-SIM X-view 2 smartphone in France. The phablet-styled device boasts a qHD, 960 x 540 display alongside an undisclosed single-core 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, a 2500mAh battery to get you through the days and, as we're finally becoming accustomed to seeing, a flavor of Android 4.0. Thomson notes the X-view 2 will hit French shelves later this summer, though there's no word yet on how much cash you'll have to unleash in order to grab one of these for yourself.
Kogan intros 10-inch Agora tablet with ICS in Australia, ships next month starting at $179
The sea of budget-friendly slates just keeps on comin' -- and hey, we're certain you won't mind it in the least. This time around it's Kogan bringing its own sub-$200 Agora tablet to folks living in the land of Oz. Those near 200 bucks will give Aussies a taste of Android 4.0, as well as a 10-inch, 1024 x 768 display, one rear 2-megapixel shooter, a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 CPU under the hood and 16GB of built-in storage (expandable via microSD). Meanwhile, those looking to keep spending to a minimum can look towards the lesser-priced $179 slab, which is identical in every bit, save for the lower 8GB of internal storage. Barring any major mishaps, Kogan says it expects to start shipping the new Agora on June 25th, with pre-orders being taken as we speak at the source link below. %Gallery-156270%
Motorola shows off Ice Cream Sandwich on a Droid RAZR, sprinkles in Webtop 3.0
Although Motorola outed its Android Ice Cream Sandwich rollout plans back in February, we've only seen leaked glimpses of what its skinned version the OS would be like for its handsets. That's changed recently thanks to Motorola's Japanese website, where a new ICS landing page features nine demo videos showcasing the software on a Droid RAZR. Among the clips, which highlight features from updated icons to a revamped lockscreen, there's also a detailed look at the LapDock-friendly Webtop 3.0 UI. Sadly however, there isn't any new word on the rollout schedule past the update Moto detailed on the 18th. You can treat yourself to some of the eye candy by clicking past the break, and you'll find all the vids by hitting the source link below -- but do keep in mind that most of clips aren't voiced in English.
LG shows off UI 3.0 for Ice Cream Sandwich devices, says it's 'unobtrusive and simple'
Love them or hate them, those ubiquitous Android skins aren't going anywhere any time soon. Now the latest one to make an entrance to the overlay game is LG's UI 3.0, which the Korean outfits says will make the overall experience of its handsets easier, speedier and "more convenient." The new UI brings features such as a novel drag anywhere-style lock screen, an Icon Customizer for setting your own photos as icons / shortcuts, a revamped Pattern Lock that lets you preset apps for quicker launch and a Voice Shutter trait for taking snaps via voice commands -- à la Sammy S Voice. UI 3.0 is set to make its debut next week with the launch of LG's Optimus LTE II in Korea, while the Optimus 4X HD will also come sporting the fresh skin once it launches in June.
Lenovo LePhone S899t with ICS reportedly in the works for China Mobile
According to a recent leak on Chinese site PConline, Lenovo's reportedly working on an Ice Cream Sandwich slab with China Mobile said to be on the receiving end of the delivery. Currently known as the LePhone S899t, this handset's allegedly friendly with the carrier's TD-SDCMA 3G network, while it's also said to feature a dual-core, NovaThor U8500 CPU, a 4.5-inch, IPS display for all viewing pleasures and, as stated earlier, it runs flavor of Google's latest OS. Aside from the purported specs, Lenovo's LePhone S899t is expected to be priced at a mere 1,299 yuan (around $200) once China Mobile makes the device official (no word on when that'll be). Either way, it's not like Lenovo's giving you a shortage of options.
Samsung Canada begins rollout of ICS today
Let's not speak of the several months it took for Ice Cream Sandwich to finally begin showing up on Samsung devices. Rather, the fine mobile-loving folks in Canada should just take a brief moment to embrace the present and not-too-distant future, because Samsung is now officially rolling out its long-awaited Android update to the nation up north -- complete with the latest version of TouchWiz -- to select devices today and continuing throughout the rest of the quarter. The list of featured products include the Galaxy S II (along with its LTE, LTE HD and X variants), Galaxy Note and several Galaxy Tabs, such as the 7.0, 7.0 Plus, 8.9 and 10.1. Of course, not everyone will get the beloved installation invitation today, since these large-scale rollouts seem to take a healthy amount of time. If you simply can't wait, it couldn't hurt to give the 'ol manual update method a try.
Google pushes IMM76I ICS build to HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus, reportedly quells connectivity woes
If you've been facing signal issues with your HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus since that recent Android 4.0.4 update, you'll be happy to know that Google's apparently readied another minor update that might help. A small amount of owners have noticed a new build of Android 4.0.4, listed as build IMM76I, showing up on their devices. As The Verge notes, Google hasn't publicly come out with what's been changed from the previous IMM76D build, but many folks over on the forums at XDA-Developers and Android Central have noticed that their handsets' cellular connectivity has improved. Furthermore, Android Central says that devices set to auto brightness aren't experiencing lag on the lock screen as some have had issue with. Mum's the word on when the update will hit every HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus, but move your cursor over to links below for all the information that's currently available.
HTC One X available today on Rogers for $170 with a three-year contract
We know Yanks using AT&T's network will be getting their own flavor of the HTC One X early next month, thus it's only appropriate for the neighbors up north to get a taste of the same smartphone medicine. Thanks to Rogers, those of you in Canada will be able to get your hands on this Sense 4, ICS-filled handset as soon as today. Rogers says HTC's One kin is coming as an exclusive to its shop, currently listing it for $169.99 on "select" three-year deals or $624.99 without any attachments. Keep in mind, this specific model's loaded with the Snapdragon S4 chip, which is slightly different than the One we reviewed a few weeks back. However, if all those cores don't make a difference to you, then all that's left to do is head to the source below and pull the trigger. [Thanks, Sean]
LG Optimus 4X HD gets dressed in white, shows its unicorn side (hands-on)
We know what you're thinking: It's white. But the truth is, there's something intangible about these snow-colored slabs that cause humans to lavishly drool. This time the sole culprit is LG's Optimus 4X HD, which appears to have found a way into the hands of Taiwanese site ePrice. Aside from being dressed in a different outfit than the first time we took it for a spin, not much has changed under that quad-core hood, meaning it's still sporting a flavor of Android 4.0 while also retaining its renown 8.9mm slim figure. Chances are this isn't enough eye candy for you, though, so we're hooking you up with a video of this unicorn in discrete action after the break. Update: We've just added our own hands-on pictures from our recent trip to Seoul, and as you can see, our Quadrant benchmark scores (we ran it four times) only reached just above 4,000 -- a bit less than what we've see previously. That said, ePrice got just above 4,200 on its 4X HD, and things could change again when the device ships with final firmware, so we shall take a look again when that happens.
HTC Golf allegedly appears in press shot sporting ICS and Sense 4
The HTC Golf, as it's known by codename, has been rumored to be in the works for quite some time now, but today marks our first virtual encounter with the device. Thanks to a leaked press image acquired by PocketNow, we can finally get an idea of what HTC's alleged entry-level slab may look like. Aside from being coated with a fresh version of Sense, the 3.5-inch Golf is also said to be packing an underwhelming 480 x 320 display, a single-core CPU, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of onboard storage (expandable via microSD). Additionally, word on the web has the Golf as being an eventual member of the outfit's Wildfire family, though we'd hold off on giving it a different dub just yet. Either way, perhaps this one will be good enough to wave goodbye to that ChaCha of yours.
HCL intros trio of Android 4.0 tablets aimed at Indian classrooms
HCL, previously known for launching those budget-friendly MiLeaps, is now getting ready to take its low-cost approach to the tablet market. Earlier today, the Indian outfit announced a trifecta of ICS-packed slates, all of which are aimed squarely at the education sector. Aside from running the freshest version of Android, these 7-inch (800 x 480) slates feature an unspecified 1GHz CPU alongside 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD) as well as full and mini-USB ports. Additionally, the K-12 and HE MyEduTabs are being bundled with bonus educational content, including free NCERT books and an extra SD card on the former. The trio is set to hit the shelves later this month in India, with the ME U1 priced at 7,999 rupees (approximately $162), while the K-12 and HE are 11,499 and 9,999, respectively. [Thanks, Rakesh]
ASUS rolls out firmware update to UK Transformer Primes (update: US, too)
Less than 48 hours after teasing us with promises of upcoming "awesome new features," ASUS is now delivering the refresh to Transformer Primes in the UK. Via its Euro Facebook page, the Taiwanese outfit has announced that all TF201 owners in the United Kingdom can expect to see the OTA update anytime now. With the fresh ICS version, you'll be able to tinker with notifications in the lockscreen, connect to Ethernet via USB (adapter not included) as well as get support for wireless ad hoc mode. Unfortunately, TF101 owners will have to exercise some patience, as ASUS says the update for the elder Transformer is still in the works. Update: According to folks in the comments (and our own Transformer Prime's notification pop-ups) the update is now rolling out stateside. [Thanks, Noah]
Archos unveils 7-inch Child Pad slate: $130, Ice Cream Sandwich on board
We know you've already added the Fisher Price DVR to the list of gadgets that may withstand the physical trauma your kid's about to put it through. But how does an ICS-equipped, 7-inch slate with parental controls sound? Dubbed Child Pad, this sticky finger-friendly tab isn't just flaunting the fact it's tasting Android's freshest treat before most of you, it's doing so with a rather modest 1GHz CPU and 1GB of RAM. In theory, that should be enough to handle your little one's multitouch doings. Speaking of, Archos is pairing up the $130 machine with access to the AppLibs Kids App Store, which offers a portfolio of over 10,000 games, books and apps. Unfortunately, there's no word on what kind of ports or internal storage the Child Pad's packing. The good news is Archos isn't saying you need to be in first grade to use it, so feel free to grab one for yourself (or your kid) when it hits shelves at the end of the month.
Texas Instruments dual WiFi module lets your tablet connect to your TV and the web simultaneously (hands-on)
Texas Instruments is helping to lead the way when it comes to mobile computing -- when we want an early look at what's to come months and even years down the road, TI is always one of our first stops. At this year's Mobile World Congress, the semiconductor leader wasn't shy about showing off its latest innovations, including those from its manufacturing and design partners. Today's demo focused on wireless video streaming -- a concept that engineers are approaching from every imaginable angle, and that is bound to make its way to consumers in a very big way within the next few years. TI's flavor is based on WiFi, and offers a dual-connection solution, letting you pair a tablet with a TV using peer-to-peer while also creating a second link between the tablet and a wireless router for Internet.We took the tech for a spin using one of TI's development platform tablets and an external WiFi dongle (shipping versions will be integrated), and everything worked as described, though the video stream was noticeably choppy and compressed. TI reps explained that they dialed down the bitrate in order to maintain a connection at the MWC expo hall, which, as you might imagine, probably had a wireless signal density greater than any other room in the world. The tablet we saw was running a very slick context-aware UI that displays one of three home screens based on your current location -- there's one for work (that displays your calendar), one for home (media and home automation controls) and another for travel (restaurant reviews and weather). Pushing content from the tablet to the TV seemed to be seamless, and while both the UI and wireless functionality may appear to be ready to make their way into your home, TI isn't making any announcements about availability. There's no need to wait for a teaser, however, which you'll find just past the break.%Gallery-149212%
HTC One S hands-on at MWC 2012 (video)
The second of the One. That's another way to describe the HTC One S, the mid-range selection in the Taiwanese company's trio of new devices. Even though it should be considered middle of the road when being compared to a heavy hitter like the One X, it's not hurting for features in the slightest. The S's claim to fame is its scratch-resistant and durable aluminum backing, and adds a highly respectable list of mouth-watering specs to go along with it. Let's have a look-see: 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED panel, 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 (MSM8260A) processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, the same 8MP rear camera found on the One X along with a VGA front-facing cam, a smallish 1,605mAh battery and 42Mbps HSPA+ radios (which will come in handy when it shows up on T-Mobile this spring).While we've had the chance to drool all over its bigger brother, the One S still satisfies in nearly every way. The aluminum build was forged using a Micro Arc Oxidation process, and indeed affords us a feeling of security in case the skinny device were to slip through our hands. Given the firm grip we had on it, the chances of something like that happening would be rather slim anyway -- still, better safe than sorry. And the dual-core S4 chipset doesn't disappoint, either, and is going to be a slightly less expensive alternative for anyone who isn't a power user. Add in the same beautiful f/2.0 camera lens with all the Sense 4.0 trimmings, and this will likely stand well amongst its peers. As with the One X, we'd still prefer to see a physical camera button to take full advantage of the swift shutter speed and simultaneous video / still image capture. Want to get a bit closer to the action? Scoop the gallery below and the video after the break.Update: The chipset in the HTC One S is a dual-core Snapdragon S4.
Nova Launcher hits Android Market, custom grid and scrolling effects in tow
We know how much you love tweaking that Android handset, so we figured we'd let you know about a fresh 4.0-friendly UI customizer. The Nova Launcher, which has dubbed itself "everyone's favorite Ice Cream Sandwich launcher," just hit the Android Market in free and paid flavors. Those looking to take the freeloadin' road will get tidbits like a customizable homescreen grid, scrolling effects (pictured above), as well as custom folders and icons. If you do, however, decide to unleash the four bucks for premium status, you'll get extra features, including personalized gestures and dock "swipe-actions." Tickle your fancy enough to take it for a spin on that shiny new G-Nex? Both variants are up for grabs from the source links below.
New Swype beta fulfills the Ice Cream Sandwich promise
It may be here a bit later than the 140-character box promised, but this fresh beta version of your favorite third-party keyboard app brings along a treat you'd been begging for. Swype's latest gift to the early-adopting crowd brings along some much requested Ice Cream Sandwich support. And, although all you Gnex-rockin' folks are getting what you wanted, the beta also adds other bits like accuracy improvements, add-ons with DragonGo! as well as downloadable languages for slates. We figured all that tapping's got you fatigued, so we're hooking you up with a clickable link to the download below.
Coby unveils its family of Ice Cream Sandwich slates, we go hands-on (video)
It's hard to tell whether CES 2012 beat out last years show for tablet numbers, but there were plenty of slabs less likely to throttle your wallet in 2012. Coby has leapt onto that very bandwagon, with a whole slew of tablets. Several, but not all, made their first appearance at this year's CES and we were itching to see how they would stack up against some very price-savvy devices. We were informed (several times) that these were still prototypes, but user experience differed substantially between models. Budget tablet fans can check out our impressions and a brief video summary of the Coby clan right after the break.
Samsung Galaxy S II and Note get late ICS Christmas presents, arriving Q1 2012
Samsung has cemented its plans for the roll-out of Ice Cream Sandwich, and it looks likely to land on most of its top drawer Android devices. This (unsurprisingly) includes the Galaxy S II, its LTE variant, the Galaxy Note, the Galaxy R and whole range of Samsung tabs, from the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus to the Galaxy Tab 10.1. The update is penned to arrive first on both the Galaxy S II and Note in Q1 2012, with other devices following, although the Korean giant says that separate announcements will be made on the finer points -- depending on the "market situation and carriers' requirements."
Galaxy Nexus for Verizon LTE unboxing and speed test (video)
After weeks of waiting, rumoured launches and even a few accidental sales, the elusive Verizon Wireless Galaxy Nexus is finally here. We dropped by a New York City retail store to try out Google's first Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone in the flesh, before bringing one home for a proper unboxing and LTE performance test. As expected, the production version that we finally got our hands on today is virtually identical to the sample that popped up at the Samsung Experience earlier this month, but with one major exception: there's a Micro SIM installed, letting us try out core functionality, such as placing phone calls and accessing data without a WiFi network in range.The Verizon Nexus arrived with Android 4.0.1 pre-installed, but prompted us to update to 4.0.2 just a few minutes after we added a Google account. It is noticeably thicker and heavier than its HSPA+ counterpart, but this thing is fast when it comes to transfer speeds -- not quite as speedy as we've seen with some LTE devices on AT&T's budding 4G network, but it's definitely in line with competing handsets from Verizon, and the MiFi we used for a comparison speed test. Our salesperson wasn't willing to let us leave without first confirming that the phone was in fact working, so he had the honor of first peeling back the phone's plastic cover. Ready to check it out? Roll up your sleeves and join us after the break for our unboxing and speed test.%Gallery-141918%%Gallery-141932%
