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Samsung outs Garnet Red Edition Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 in the US, prices it at $220
Just as we saw with AT&T's Garnet Red Galaxy S III, Samsung has now introduced yet another device that's wrapped in a similar color scheme -- and, hey, with Valentine's Day just around the corner, what better time, right? The difference here, however, is the South Korean company's including a matching case as part of this special edition Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, with the newfangled bundle set to be available for $220 when it goes on sale this week. Additionally, Samsung's 7-inch Garnet Red Tab 2 will be shipping with Jelly Bean already onboard, while other internal specs won't be any different than the ones we became familiar with last year -- ones such as the 1,024 x 600 TFT display, 1GHz, dual-core TI OMAP CPU, 8GB of internal storage and, of course, that handy IR blaster. You'll have to snag one quick if you're interested, though, as Samsung has told us the blooming Tab 2 7.0 will -- much like other peculiar sets -- only be available for a limited time at shops like Amazon, Walmart, Office Depot, Tiger Direct, Fry's Electronics and Toys R Us.
Leaked HTC Sense 5 screenshots suggest a leaner, cleaner skin
Did yesterday's uncertain glimpse at a new HTC phone leave you wanting? Then grab a tray and find a seat, because the right-hand image above comes from XDA developer mdeejay, who claims to have a working port of the forthcoming Sense 5 skin. On the left, we've stuck up a Sense 4+ lockscreen to highlight how the new UI feels much leaner, cleaner and flatter -- following much the same trend as Android itself. The 3D ring pull is gone, for starters, and the time and weather widgets also have a calmer and less skeuomorphic feel, with what looks like a thinner font (Roboto condensed?). These same widgets carry over to the apps screen, shown after the break (Sense 5 on the right), which in turn shows off fresh icons that persist with the minimalist flavor. Head over to the XDA link below for the full screenshot buffet.
Huawei's dual-SIM Ascend D2 for China Telecom priced at $640, available online tomorrow
It's only been about a week since the Ascend D2's official debut at CES, but according to Huawei's latest announcement on Sina Weibo, the manufacturer will already be offering its unsubsidized 5-inch 1080p flagship at its online store right after 5pm local time tomorrow. Specifically, this will be a China Telecom (CDMA2000) variant with dual-SIM support, so Huawei fans outside China may want to wait for the WCDMA flavor (there's always the Oppo Find 5 as well). If you happen to be in China and don't mind using China Telecom, then feel free to fork out ¥3,990 or about $640 to be one of the first handful of owners of this 32GB, 1.5GHz quad-core device. That is, if you manage to get your order through "while stocks last."
The Android Mini PC RK3066 is the MK802's younger, smarter, cheaper brother, we go hands on
When the MK802 Android mini PC landed in our laps, it caused more than a ripple of interest. Since then, a swathe of "pendroids" have found their way to market, and the initial waves have died down. While we were at CES, however, we bumped into the man behind the MK802, and he happened to have a new, updated iteration of the Android mini PC. Best of all, he was kind enough to give us one to spend some time with. The specifications speak for themselves, and this time around we're looking at a dual-core 1.6GHz Cortex A9, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of built-in flash (and a microSD slot), WiFi in b/g/n flavors, DLNA support and Bluetooth, all running on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. There's also a micro-USB, full-size USB, female HDMI port and 3.5mm audio out. For anyone who has used one of these types of devices, the two standout features mentioned above should be the audio jack, and the addition of Bluetooth. Why? Because this expands the potential functionality of the device manyfold. Beforehand, the lack of Bluetooth made adding peripherals -- such as a mouse of keyboard -- either difficult, or impractical. However, with Bluetooth, setting up this device to be somewhat useful just got a lot easier. Likewise, with the dedicated audio out, now you can work with sound when the display you are connecting it to (a monitor for example) doesn't have speakers. Read on after the break to hear more of our impressions.
Hands-on with HiSense's first quad-core Android phone, the U958
Chinese manufacturer HiSense has taken over Microsoft's old booth at CES, and it's mainly showing off its latest and greatest televisions. But the company has a dirty little secret that not too many gadget fans know: it sells phones and tablets as well. While these devices may not be on the bleeding edge, HiSense's new Android smartphone, the U958, actually sports a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Play processor (the MSM8225Q, to be precise). Aside from the inclusion of Android 4.1, the rest of the spec sheet doesn't impress: a 4.5-inch FWVGA (854×480) display, 5MP rear camera, 512MB RAM, 4GB internal storage, microSD, 1,700mAh battery, dual-SIM support and a thickness of 9.5mm. It's pretty clear that the phone is geared primarily toward emerging markets; the specs and overall design seem to indicate that the company's trying to keep costs down to a minimum. To the seeker of high-performance flagship devices, the U958 will likely get lost in the sea of competing budget-friendly phones at CES; we're interested to see, however, if we're witnessing the start of HiSense's attempt to snag up crucial smartphone market share. Check out a few pics of the phone in action below. %Gallery-175393% Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.
GameStick Android console is the size of a USB stick
PlayJam, a company that currently operates a social/casual games network for smart/connected TVs called The PlayJam Network, has spent the last 12 months developing "GameStick," a dongle-sized Android gaming console that plugs directly into a television's HDMI port. The device currently exists in several different functional prototype forms, but bringing it to market will require the aid of an ongoing Kickstarter campaign, which has recently surpassed its fundraising goal of $100,000.The GameStick itself runs on Android (Jelly Bean, specifically), outputs at 1080p and will cost $79 when it officially launches in April. The console is powered by an Amlogic 8726-MX mobile processor generally used in Chinese Android tablets, and is supported by one gig of DDR3 RAM and eight gigs of Flash storage.Games are obtained wirelessly through the Internet, naturally, and PlayJam is said to be working with "more than 250 developers" to get titles made for and ported to the system. Beyond that, designers interested in developing for the thing can pledge $500 for access to a prototype unit and the system's SDK one month before the console's commercial debut.
HTC One S global models finally gorging on Jelly Bean 4.1.1
HTC One S owners are seeing the light at the end of the Jelly Bean tunnel, as Android 4.1.1 is now being pushed out to the global models. The company originally promised it way back in July, with rumblings about an October arrival as well, but up until now there's been no joy. HTC One X global owners started to see that Jelly Bean release last month, and we can confirm that it's now come to our very own HTC One S handset too, as the image above proves. XDA Developers also caught wind of a direct HTC link, which will finally bring the extra fluidity of Google's butter to the mid-range handset. There's no word yet about US carrier-flavored versions, but it wouldn't hurt to check your own handset, or XDA's CID list at the MC link below.
US Cellular delivering Jelly Bean update to Samsung Galaxy S III on December 21st
Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T all have already done it, and now it's US Cellular's turn to start distributing the Android 4.1 batch to its own variant of Samsung's Galaxy S III. According to the carrier, said Jelly Bean update is set to hit the flagship, TouchWiz-loaded handset this Friday, December 21st, carrying now-accustomed features such as Project Butter, Google Now and a slew of other enhancements to the camera app, notifications, widgets and, naturally, the overall user interface. US Cellular didn't give us a specific time as to when we can expect the goods, but it did say the update will be available over-the-air and via USB -- either way, you may want to bookmark that source link below, as more in-depth installation details are expected to show up there come Friday.
AT&T rolls out Android 4.1 update for Motorola Atrix HD
Roughly five months after its release, the Motorola Atrix HD has been given the green light by AT&T to receive Project Butter, aka Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The refresh will be available for download over WiFi and will offer the usual suite of new features that come as part of the Jelly Bean package, but it'll also add Quick Settings and a few other enhancements to the mix. The rollout is expected to begin today, though it hasn't shown up on our unit just yet. To keep a close eye on your device, head to the About Phone section of your settings menu; let us know if you get it and what you think.
Verizon pushing Android 4.1 update to Samsung Galaxy S III tomorrow
Verizon seems to be late to the update party, but Android 4.1 Jelly Bean will be pushed out to its version of the Samsung Galaxy S III "in phases" as an OTA update beginning December 14th. We knew it was coming in the very near future, but it's nice to have a specific date to look forward to. Don't be alarmed if the update doesn't show up right away; as we've seen with plenty of other OTA rollouts, it may take a while for it to reach every GS3 user on the network. Along with Jelly Bean, you can also expect to see support for global data roaming, mobile payments through Isis, some extra preloaded applications and miscellaneous enhancements across the board. Here's the interesting tidbit: Verizon's support page claims that the new upgrade is only 62MB in total size. This seems to be quite hard to believe, given the fact that Jelly Bean on other Galaxy S III variants has ranged in size from 275MB (Sprint) to 740MB (AT&T), but perhaps Big Red cooked up a little extra magic to make the long wait even more worthwhile. Update: We just received word from Verizon that the support page is incorrect and that the update will be around 400MB. This makes it one of the larger updates, but still nowhere as hefty as AT&T's.
Storage Options outs 7-inch Scroll Evoke tablet with Jelly Bean, available now for £120
Storage Options is known to launch its own Android-powered slates in the UK every now and then, and, as of today, we can safely add one more to the outfit's expanding list. What's more, according to the company, the newly announced Scroll Evoke is its "most powerful" tablet to date, with that self-imposed tag likely gaining its status thanks to the pretty decent specs this 7-incher is packing. Aside from the 7-inch, 1024 x 600 display, though, the Scroll Evoke also boasts a dual-core, 1.6GHz Cortex A9 CPU alongside a mighty quad-core Mali-T604 GPU, 8GB of built-in storage (up to 32GB via microSD) and, to make things better, it's indeed running Jelly Bean (v4.1, to be exact). Those living across the United Kingdom can now pre-order the Scroll Evoke for a mere £120 from the Storage Options site -- and if you're looking to do just that, then hit the source link below, where you'll also find more pictures to gaze at.
Archos GamePad now shipping for £130: Android 4.1, 1.6GHz CPU and a bona fide D-pad
You've waited long enough, haven't you? The low-cost PMP leader has kept the mantra alive with its GamePad, which is now shipping to those interested for £129.99. Put simply, it's a widescreen gaming handheld that runs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), replete with a 1.6GHz dual-core processor and Mali 400mp quad-core GPU. There's a 1,024 x 600 resolution touchpanel, physical control buttons and analog sticks, and the whole thing checks in at just 0.3-inches thick. Unfortunately, there's no word on battery life, but even the optimist in us can't predict a number that'd be worthy of boasting about. Hit up the source link to make plans for purchase, or click past the break for the full presser. Update: Anandtech reports the device will come within range of US gaming thumbs early next year, though there's no dollar price to go with that information.
Toshiba intros Excite 10 SE tablet with Android 4.1, available December 6th for $350
Toshiba's been relatively quiet on the tablet front since announcing its Excite lineup back in April, but today the company's making a mild comeback with a hot-off-the-press, Jelly Bean-loaded slate. Aside from packing Android 4.1, though, the newly announced (although not exactly unknown) Excite 10 SE also boasts a 10.1-inch, AutoBrite HD (1280 x 800) display and NVIDIA'S Tegra 3 CPU -- all while weighing just shy of 23 ounces (22.6, to be exact) and measuring in at only 0.4 inches thick. Toshiba's making the Excite 10 SE available a couple of days from now, on December 6th, starting at a decent price of $350 with 16GB of internal storage -- at which point you'll be able to snag one from the source link below or at 'select' brick-and-mortar retailers.
Ouya dev consoles start shipping December 28
Production appear to be progressing according to schedule over at Ouya, which has just announced that the development kits for its self-titled debut game console will ship out to qualifying Kickstarter supporters on December 28, just as planned.While every Ouya console that ever ships can be used for software development, these pre-retail units have some unknown differentiating feature, according to Ouya's official site, which calls them "rare drops."The Android-powered console's SDK (or "ODK," as Ouya is calling it) is currently being tested and will become available "when the dev consoles ship to gamemakers." Ownership of an Ouya dev kit is not required to access the ODK, however, as it'll be freely and publicly available online. Conversely, an Ouya dev kit is required to see the console's custom Jelly Bean GUI in its current state.
Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean binaries added to AOSP
Barely a fortnight after the Android 4.2 binaries were added to the Android Open Source Project database, here comes Android 4.2.1. It appears as if the files have been uploaded for the Nexus 10, Nexus 7, Galaxy Nexus (Verizon model included), but the Nexus 4 is being omitted for the time being. In short, this opens the doors for custom ROM makers to dig in and update their own wares with the latest and greatest from Google. And come December, the users of those wares will be hugely appreciative of that extra 0.1. Hit the source links to grab the newness.
Meizu MX2 packs 1.6GHz quad-core chip, 4.4-inch display and Jelly Bean, due mid-December
Amidst the fierce competition in the Chinese mobile market, Meizu has managed to keep up with its annual cycle to unveil its latest flagship device, the MX2. Announced at the launch event in Beijing earlier today, the MX2 comes with a Samsung-made 1.6GHz, Cortex-A9 quad-core SoC dubbed "MX5S," along with 2GB of RAM, a 30-percent faster GPU, a 4.4-inch 347ppi (1,280 x 800) gapless display with 3.15mm bezel and efficient "New Mode 2" technology (the description of which sounds like IGZO to us), an improved eight-megapixel BSI F/2.4 camera and a choice of 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of built-in memory. There's also a front-facing camera, dual-mic noise cancellation, MHL video output, S/PDIF audio output, a non-removable 1,800mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0 and HSPA+ radio at 2,100MHz (2G at 900/1800). As before, the white double injection-molded back cover can be taken off to access the SIM card slot, but there should also be various color options in the near future. Read on for more info, and do also check out the official introduction video after the break. Update: We now have some hands-on photos courtesy of Stone Ip from Engadget Chinese. They're in the second gallery below.
Google hustles Android 4.2.1 onto Nexus devices to give you December back
With the rollout of a major OS upgrade like Android 4.2, we can imagine it's easy to forget something, but Google's omission of the entire month of December in the People app was certainly a doozy. The beauty of the Nexus program is that Google can rectify little issues like that post-haste, however, and Mountain View has now rolled out Jelly Bean 4.2.1, a small update that adds back that all-too-important month. So far, Nexus 4 and 10 users have reported getting the update, according to XDA Developers, though there's no evidence yet of any other fixes. Check your Nexus device (or the source) to see if it's arrived in time for, you know. Update: Looks as if the Nexus 7 is a go, too!
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean binaries added to AOSP
Good news for fans of Android alternatives: Google's just added binaries for Jelly Bean 4.2 to AOSP. Up until now, only the Nexus 10 and Nexus 4 had been privy to the company's latest OS version bump, but with the presence of these files on its developer portal and updates leaking out early, custom ROMs are just now a stone's skip away. Curiously, Mountain View has omitted the Nexus 4 from the list, but devs willing to get their hands dirty with the Nexuses 7 and 10, as well as both variants of the Galaxy Nexus -- yes, Verizon's model is on the list -- can have at it right now at the source link below.
Jelly Bean update starts rolling out to Verizon's Droid RAZR M
We know not all Motorola handsets will be lucky enough to be on the receiving end of Mountain View's Jelly Bean OS, but the Droid RAZR M, on the other hand, is now being prepped to get a taste of Android 4.1. According to Verizon, the 4.3-inch, Kevlar-sporting device can now be added to the growing list of devices running Jelly Bean, with the carrier noting that the fresh update will officially start rolling out to customers today "in phases." Meanwhile, Big Red also says an option to download the upgrade manually is coming, though that alternative won't be available until later next week. Regardless, proud RAZR M owners can expect a slew of under-the-hood improvements, new features such as Google Now and compatibility with ISIS Mobile Wallet (where the NFC-based payment system's live, of course). Are you seeing the Jelly Bean goods on your Droid now? Do let us know in the comments below.
Apple wants to add Jelly Bean, Galaxy Note 10.1 to Samsung lawsuit
When Apple won its patent case against Samsung back in August to the tune of a $1.05 billion payout, we knew it was just the beginning. Today in a San Jose, California courtroom, Apple asked Judge Lucy Koh to add Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet and Google's Android 4.1 Jelly Bean mobile OS to the growing list of products it claims violate its patents. The lawsuit at the center of this new case was originally brought against Apple by Samsung last month and is scheduled to go to trial in 2014. In it, Samsung is seeking to prove that the iPhone 5 actually violates some of its patents. It should be noted that Judge Koh, who is presiding over this case, had originally ruled to block sales of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 but rescinded that ruling last month. The sales ban was lifted after jurors who awarded the billion-plus-dollar settlement to Apple in August found that Samsung hadn't violated the Apple patent that served as its basis. [via TechCrunch]
